The Urban Commune of Agadez is preparing for the celebration of the 3rd anniversary of the CNSP's accession to power, scheduled for July 26, 2026. Chief of Battalion Assarid Almoustapha, the Delegate Administrator of the Urban Commune of Agadez, acknowledged the significant governance challenges faced by the commune. These challenges encompass administrative and financial governance, as well as critical basic social and economic sectors, particularly concerning resource mobilization. Future prospects for the commune aim to promote good governance through the inclusive involvement of all socio-professional groups within Agadez. These future plans also include consolidating local governance, fostering citizen mobilization, and strengthening partnerships with various development actors to ensure sustainable progress.
Governance and Administrative Reforms
The Agadez commune has implemented several governance and administrative reforms, including the installation of members of the Consultative Commission. Further changes saw the suspension of contracts for contractual agents and the application of the status of territorial public service. Administrative modernization efforts included the digitalization and computerization of the civil status service, enhancing efficiency and accessibility for residents.
The commune also conducted a digitized administrative census with support from UNICEF, alongside a digitized fiscal census, also backed by UNICEF, to better understand its demographic and economic landscape. In terms of infrastructure, the commune constructed an administrative block using its own funds, an investment totaling 136,353,665 FCFA. Financial improvements have been noted, with the road tax maintaining a rate of around 12%, a significant increase from the 3% it never exceeded before the current administration.
Despite these measures, challenges persist, including issues arising from the suspension of contractual agent contracts, the non-application of territorial public service status, and an excess of unnecessary agents. Problems related to land and property management are also cited as ongoing concerns, requiring concerted efforts for resolution. The Urban Commune of Agadez, established in 1972, was effectively installed in October 1979. According to the 2024 administrative census, the population of the Urban Commune of Agadez is 189,291 inhabitants. The commune covers an area of 600 km² and is characterized by its diverse population, with the main ethnic groups including Touareg, Haoussa, Peul, Kanouri, Toubou, Arab, and Zarma. The commune is structured into 48 neighborhoods and has 28 administrative villages attached to it. Since its installation, the Urban Commune of Agadez has had 20 mayors, three of whom were elected through democratic processes.
Infrastructure and Social Services Development
The Agadez commune has undertaken several initiatives to bolster infrastructure and social services, including the rehabilitation of the local council of youth, providing a renewed space for community engagement. The commune also contributed to the construction of 39 equipped classrooms across the region, significantly enhancing educational capacity. Of these, 22 classrooms were financed using the commune's own funds, representing an investment of 219,000,000 FCFA. Additionally, the commune manufactured 275 school desks with financing from ANFICT, further supporting educational infrastructure. Educational materials were also provided to various school inspectorates to ensure students and teachers have necessary resources.
In the area of water infrastructure, the commune financed drinking water extensions in the Tekazamte, Salkad, Tadresse, Abattoir, Dagamanett, and Misrata districts. This project, costing 42 million FCFA, was funded by the commune's own resources, demonstrating a commitment to improving access to potable water. Nine public fountains were constructed in districts with support from IOM, each equipped with polytanks to ensure water storage and consistent supply. These public fountains were specifically installed in schools within the Tekazamt and Tadress districts to improve access for students, promoting better hygiene and health. The total cost for the public fountains project amounted to 78,411,654 FCFA.
Healthcare services also saw improvements, with the commune equipping health centers (CSI) with essential supplies. These provisions included beds, mattresses, pharmaceuticals, and sanitation materials, valued at over 7 million FCFA, aiming to enhance the quality of care provided to residents. Public health efforts extended to sanitation, with the commune carrying out a mosquito eradication operation to combat vector-borne diseases. Further investments in sanitation included the rehabilitation of latrines, which cost 1,500,000 FCFA, improving public hygiene facilities.
Economic Initiatives and Environmental Management
The mayor's office distributed seeds to producers, an initiative costing 1,242,000 FCFA, to support agricultural activities and food security. The commune also established a 5-hectare agricultural area in TassakN’Talamt for agripreneurship, supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), fostering economic opportunities for local populations. Efforts to assist vulnerable populations included the free distribution of cereals, alongside the sale of cereals at moderate prices, ensuring access to essential food items for those in need.
Several livestock vaccination campaigns were conducted to combat epizootics, with support from the State, the mayor's office, and other partners, safeguarding animal health and the livelihoods of pastoral communities. The mayor's office also carried out vaccinations for stray dogs within the commune, addressing public health and safety concerns. To foster economic empowerment and job creation, several young people received training in various fields and were provided with kits, equipping them with skills and tools for self-sufficiency.
In environmental management, the commune invested 70,000,000 FCFA of its own funds in mechanized operations aimed at clearing large dumpsites, improving urban cleanliness and public health. The commune further acquired a dump truck, co-financed with IOM, at a cost of 42,600,000 FCFA, enhancing its waste collection capabilities. Additionally, Group SOS donated a dump truck valued at 42,000,000 FCFA, further bolstering the commune's fleet.
The rehabilitation of the wastewater spreading dike was carried out with assistance from the PIDUREM project, contributing to better wastewater management. The PIDUREM project also financed the equipment for 20 sanitation zones (ZPS) with sanitation kits and provided 69 tricycles for waste evacuation, enhancing the commune's waste management capabilities and promoting a cleaner environment.
Urban Development and Future Prospects
The Agadez commune has implemented its Waste Management Plan (PGD), which included training for operators of the sanitation zones (ZPS) to ensure effective waste handling. Clearing and desilting operations were carried out at a cost of 37,632,170 FCFA, maintaining the functionality of drainage systems. PIDUREM contributed significantly to urban infrastructure, constructing a closed canal spanning 1600 ml to connect Tanaberi to Kori Eghazarmidiren, a project that also incorporated public lighting to improve safety and visibility. Additionally, PIDUREM built a 600 ml paved street and a 200 ml causeway on the RTA, improving road networks within the commune. The total cost for these roadworks undertaken by PIDUREM exceeded 1.2 billion FCFA, reflecting a substantial investment in urban development. PIDUREM further financed the treatment of critical points on major city arteries, investing 104,000,000 FCFA into these improvements, addressing areas prone to traffic congestion or damage.
In support of traffic management, traffic lights were installed at four city intersections, a project costing 25,417,995 FCFA, funded through ANFICT, to regulate traffic flow and enhance road safety. The commune also rehabilitated solar streetlights along the town hall-airport axis and within the old town, utilizing 4,689,600 FCFA of its own funds for this upgrade, improving public lighting and energy efficiency. Efforts to enhance electrical infrastructure are ongoing, with the densification and extension of the electrical network currently underway in several districts, aiming to provide reliable power to more residents. Work is resuming on the Agadez hybrid power plant, which has a capacity of 25 MWc, promising a significant boost to the commune's energy supply. To bolster power supply, a 2200 KVA SDMO generator set was installed and commissioned at the Agadez site, providing additional capacity.
Context and Outlook
Ongoing projects for the Urban Commune of Agadez include the development of Kori Eghazarmidiren, financed by PIDUREM for 5 billion FCFA, a major undertaking to transform urban spaces. Further infrastructure plans encompass the construction of drainage roadways and canals, estimated at 2.5 billion FCFA, vital for managing water runoff and preventing flooding. The commune is also working on building mini-AEP (water supply points), a leisure park, a new cattle market, and a regional youth center, all designed to enhance public services and quality of life. Urban development efforts extend to the treatment of critical points on city roads and updating the Waste Management Plan (PGD). Logistics for waste evacuation are being improved through the planned acquisition of dump trucks, garbage bins, a backhoe loader, and a loader, ensuring more efficient waste collection and disposal.
Social services are also seeing expansion, with the ongoing construction of a maternity ward at CSI Dagamanett, which will improve maternal and child healthcare services. Educational infrastructure is being enhanced with the construction of equipped classrooms, perimeter walls, and school latrines, creating better learning environments. To bolster power supply, a 920 KVA CAT generator set is being installed at the Agadez site, further strengthening the commune's energy resilience. The commune's future prospects also include intensifying drinking water and electricity production and distribution through extensions, as well as developing irrigation to intensify agricultural production, addressing key areas for sustainable growth.
The Agadez region experiences two distinct types of migratory flows. Circular migrations primarily involve Nigeriens from the south, engaged in gardening, domestic work, commerce, and gold panning, contributing to the local economy. In contrast, foreign migrants in transit are primarily heading towards Algeria, Libya, and Europe, presenting distinct challenges and humanitarian needs. Local authorities are organizing monitoring missions for these migratory flows, particularly in response to mass and regular deportations from Algeria. Humanitarian response plans are concurrently being implemented to address the needs arising from these movements, ensuring support for vulnerable populations.