The Nigerien government has imposed a nationwide restriction on petrol sales, prohibiting all fuel stations from operating between 9 p.m. And 6 a.m. This order affects petrol distribution across all regions of Niger. Authorities have mandated that no fuel sales occur during these overnight hours. Private operators and state-linked entities must comply with the new schedule immediately. The government-mandated curfew on fuel dispensing is designed to regulate the flow of petroleum products throughout the country. By enforcing a strict window for operations, the state aims to maintain oversight of the national supply chain.
Details of Fuel Restrictions
Designated petrol stations are exempt from the overnight closure mandate, allowing for continued service in specific locations. These specific sites remain the only points of access for fuel during the restricted hours. Ganda Sanda, Secretary-General of the taxi union Synctaxi, noted the operational difficulties these restrictions place on transport workers. "To obtain fuel, you need authorisation. The petrol station must be open around the clock," Ganda Sanda stated. Regarding the broader impact on the industry, Ganda Sanda added that the transport sector "makes a significant contribution to the country’s development." Expressing concern over the current policy, Ganda Sanda said, "We are appealing to the governorate and the governor as well to reconsider because it does not suit us."
The economic burden on individual drivers remains a point of concern as the new regulations take effect. Moussa Idé Boubacar, a taxi driver in Niamey, detailed the daily financial breakdown of his operations under normal conditions. "Normally, we generate revenue of around 20,000 a day, of which 8,000 is for payments and 12,000 is for fuel. With this shortage, we’ve had some management issues," Moussa Idé Boubacar explained. These figures reflect the dependence of drivers on consistent fuel availability to meet their daily obligations and maintain vehicle operations. For drivers like Moussa Idé Boubacar, the inability to purchase fuel outside of the 6 a.m. To 9 p.m. Window directly impacts the 12,000 typically set aside for daily fuel costs.
Regulatory measures also extend to the informal market to ensure compliance with the new distribution rules. Authorities have officially prohibited the sale of fuel in jerry cans outside of authorized filling stations in any area that contains at least one petrol station. This move aims to centralize fuel distribution and monitor consumption patterns more closely under the government’s updated framework. By restricting non-station sales, officials intend to prevent the accumulation of fuel in unauthorized containers during the hours when stations are required to remain closed. This prohibition applies strictly to regions where at least one petrol station is available to serve the public. Through these measures, the government seeks to eliminate secondary markets that operate outside the purview of the newly established nightly schedule.
