Niamey is the capital and largest city of the West African country Niger. Niamey lies
on the Niger River, primarily situated on the east bank. It is an administrative, cultural
and economic centre. Niamey's population, which was estimated at 774,235 in 2006, is
now projected to be much higher. The city is located in a pearl millet growing
region, while manufacturing industries include bricks, ceramic goods, cement and weaving.
History Niamey was probably founded in the eighteenth
century, but was of little importance to most of the country until the French developed
a colonial post in the 1890s. This rapidly grew into an important centre. In 1926 it
became the capital of Niger, and the population gradually increased, from about 3,000 in 1930
to around 30,000 in 1960. The period from 1970 to 1988 was one in which the economy
of Niger boomed, driven by revenue from the uranium mines at Arlit. In this period, the
population of Niamey grew from 108,000 to 398,365 inhabitants. The city expanded from
1,367 hectares in 1970 to 4,400 hectares by 1977, in the process annexing peripheral villages
such as Lazaret. By some estimates the population had reached
800,000 in 2000. In 2011, government press estimated the total urban population at over
1.5 million. A major cause of the increase has been in migration for work and during
droughts, as well a high population growth. This last factor means a majority of the city's
citizens are youths. Geography and climate
Covering an area of over 250 km2 the metropolitan area sits atop two plateaus reaching 218 m
in altitude, bisected by the Niger River. At Niamey, the river, running almost straight
SSE from Gao, makes a series of wide bends. The city was founded on the east of the river
as it meanders from a west to east flow to run almost directly south. A series of marshy
islands begin at Niamey and extend south in the river.
The climate is hot semi-arid, with an expected rainfall of between 500 mm and 750 mm a
year, mostly beginning with a few storms in May, then accelerating to a rainy season usually
lasting from sometime in June to early September, when the rains taper off rather quickly. Most
of the rainfall is from late June to mid August. There is practically no rain from mid-October
to April. Niamey is remarkably hot throughout the year. Average monthly high temperatures
reach 38 °C four months out of the year and in no month does average high temperatures
fall below 32 °C. During the dry season, particularly from November through February,
nights are generally cool. Average nighttime lows between November and February range from
14–18 °C.
Population While Niamey's population has grown steadily
since independence, the droughts of the early 1970s and 1980s, along with the economic crisis
of the early 1980s, have propelled an exodus of rural inhabitants to Niger's largest city.
Under the Military government of General Seyni Kountché, there were strict controls on residency,
and the government would regularly round up and "deport" those without permits back to
their villages. The growing freedoms of the late 1980s and 1990s, along with the Tuareg
Rebellion of 1990s and famine in the 2000s, have reinforced the process of immigration,
with large informal settlements appearing on the outskirts of the cities. Noticeable
in the city's centre since the 1980s are groups of poor, young, or handicapped beggars. Within
the richer or more trafficked neighbourhoods, these beggars have in fact formed a well regulated
hierarchical system in which beggars garner sadaka according to cultural and religious
norms.
Sites and institutions
Attractions in the city include the Niger National Museum, incorporating a zoo, a museum
of vernacular architecture, a craft centre, and exhibits including dinosaur skeletons
and the Tree of Ténéré. There are also American, French and Nigerien cultural centres,
seven major market centers including the large Niamey Grand Market, a traditional wrestling
arena and a horse track. The city is also the site of Diori Hamani
International Airport, the National School of Administration, Abdou Moumouni University,
the Higher Institute of Mining, Industry and Geology which lies on the right bank of the
river, and many institutes AMU has seen a number of protest actions over the years,
including the 2006 Abdou Moumouni University protests.
Several hospitals are located in Niamey, including the National Hospital and Lamordé University
Hospital. In December 2005 it was the host of the Jeux
de la Francophonie.
Niamey makes up a special capital district of Niger, which is surrounded by the department
of Tillabéri. Niamey hosts the African Centre of Meteorological
Application for Development [1]. Religion
More than 90% of Niger is populated by Muslims. Niamey hosts the largest mosque in the country,
the Grand Mosque of Niamey. The city is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese
of Niamey. There is also a small Bahá'í community in Niamey.
Governance The city of Niamey itself is governed as an
autonomous first-level administrative block, the Niamey Urban Community. It includes five
Urban Communes, divided into 44 "Districts" and 99 "Quartiers", including formerly independent
towns. It is a co-equal first division subdivision with the seven Regions of Niger. The Niamey
Urban Community includes an administration and Governor appointed by national leaders.
Like the rest of Niger, Niamey has seen a decentralization of governance since 2000.
Government Ordinance n°2010-56 and Presidential Decree n°2010-679 of September 2010 mandated
an elected City Council for the city of Niamey, subsumed under the CUN. This excludes some
outlying areas of the CUN. Forty-five councilors are popularly elected and in turn elect the
Mayor of the City of Niamey. In July 2011 the first Mayor under the new system, Oumarou
Dogari Moumouni, was installed by the Governor of the CUN Mrs. Kané Aichatou Boulama and
the City Council. The City Council and Mayor have limited roles compared the CUN Governor.
Niamey has a third layer of government in the Commune system. Each Commune elects its
own council, and outside major cities, these function like independent cities. Niamey and
other major cities have been, since the advent of decentralization, developing coordination
of Commune governments in large cities made up of multiple Communes.
Under this devolution process formalised in the 1999 Constitution of Niger, the CUN contains
five "Urban Communes" and no "Rural Communes". As all Nigerien Urban Communes, they are divided
into Quarters with elected boards.
The CUN includes 99 Quarters: Niamey I commune, 20 Quarters
Niamey II commune, 17 Quarters Niamey III commune, 17 Quarters
Niamey IV commune, 17 Quarters Niamey V commune, 28 Quarters
The CUN includes land where there were formerly several surrounding towns and villages which
the city of Niamey has now annexed. These include Soudouré, Lamordé, Gamkallé, Yantala,
and Gaweye. The CUN covers a territory of 239.30 km2,
or 0.02% of the nation's territory. Until 1998, all of greater Niamey was part
of Tillabery Region, which prior to 1992 was named the Niamey Department. The CUN remains
surrounded on all sides by Tillabery Region. References
Decalo, Samuel. Historical Dictionary of the Niger. Boston & Folkestone: Scarecrow Press.
ISBN 0-8108-3136-8. Geels, Jolijn. Niger. Chalfont St Peter, Bucks
/ Guilford, CT: Bradt UK / Globe Pequot Press. ISBN 978-1-84162-152-4.
External links Niamey travel guide from Wikivoyage
Niger Assemblee Nationale official website Mission of Niger to the United Nations official
website BBC News Country Profile - Niger
CIA World Factbook - Niger Niger at DMOZ
US State Department - Niger includes Background Notes, Country Commercial Guides and major
reports MSN Map
American International School of Niamey American International School of Niamey