Keypoints:
- $144.7m AfDB support for Niger’s energy reforms
- Electricity access to rise to 30 percent by 2026
- Focus on renewables, governance and inclusion
THE African Development Bank (AfDB) has signed a $144.7 million financing agreement with Niger to strengthen energy access, industrial growth, and inclusive development under a new reform initiative.
The deal, concluded at the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan, was signed by AfDB President Dr Sidi Ould Tah and Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine. The funds, drawn from the African Development Fund — the Bank’s concessional lending window — will support the first phase of Niger’s Energy Sector Governance and Competitiveness Support Programme (PAGSEC).
Prime Minister Zeine, who also serves as Niger’s Minister of Economy and Finance and Governor of the Bank Group for his country, described the programme as a milestone in the nation’s economic transformation.
‘It is with great pleasure that we have just formalised this agreement, which is very important for Niger,’ he said. ‘The agreement is part of our strong cooperation with the African Development Bank Group.’
Expanding electricity and industrial capacity
The AfDB’s support aims to raise national electricity coverage from 22.5 percent to 30 percent by 2026. It will also help boost the manufacturing sector’s share of GDP from 2.5 percent to 3.8 percent within the same timeframe.
A central component of the programme focuses on renewable energy development, targeting 240 MW of solar capacity by 2030 — including 50 MW to be commissioned by December 2026. The initiative is expected to attract private investment in mini-grid projects vital for rural electrification.
Prime Minister Zeine noted that the AfDB’s intervention had arrived at a critical time for Niger. ‘Our Bank’s support came at an important time, and the process has now led to the establishment of this programme, which aims to support Niger’s economic competitiveness and resilience to multiple shocks through improved access to energy, promotion of the private sector, consolidation of the fiscal framework, and better consideration of vulnerable groups within public policies,’ he said.
Strengthening fiscal governance and private sector dialogue
Beyond energy access, PAGSEC seeks to reinforce Niger’s public financial management systems and improve tax revenue mobilisation and expenditure controls. The programme will also help clear domestic arrears, strengthen dialogue between government and the private sector, and advance an industrial and trade policy framework to enhance competitiveness.
Dr Ould Tah reaffirmed the AfDB’s long-standing commitment to Niger’s development goals. ‘I can assure you that the African Development Bank Group will remain, as it has always been, a strong supporter of all our regional member states in their pursuit of harmonious development and shared prosperity,’ he said, commending the Bank’s teams and its Board of Directors for their support.
Social inclusion and resilience
A key feature of PAGSEC is its focus on social inclusion, particularly for communities affected by insecurity in the Sahel. The programme includes targeted interventions for internally displaced persons, women, and young people.
With more than 507,000 internally displaced people across Niger, PAGSEC will implement social and economic initiatives designed to strengthen resilience and improve livelihoods. It will also establish high-level coordination mechanisms and update national energy policies to encourage private-sector participation in renewable and mini-grid development — critical for rural electrification.
Through PAGSEC, Niger aims to harness its significant renewable energy potential while consolidating governance systems that foster inclusive, sustainable growth.
The African Development Bank Group continues to anchor Niger’s transformation through strategic investments that promote energy security, private-sector expansion, and institutional reform.
