In Niger, the government has launched the validation process for two major strategic documents: the National Digital Development Policy (PNDN 2026–2035) and the Digital Development Sector Plan (PSDN 2026–2030).
These frameworks aim to strengthen digital infrastructure, develop skills, and improve sector governance in order to support the country’s economic growth, according to an official statement. Among the priorities is the expansion of digital infrastructure, particularly the deployment of fiber-optic networks. Authorities also intend to position Niger as a regional digital interconnection hub.
The Minister of Communication and New Information Technologies, Adji Ali Salatou, stressed that this step represents a key moment in the national ownership of the digital strategy. It will make it possible to examine the proposed orientations, enrich the planned actions, and ensure that this strategic document responds to the country’s priorities and ambitions.
The program also includes the modernization of public administration through the development of e-government, as well as improved connectivity in rural areas and administrative villages. Authorities also aim to promote digital financial inclusion, encourage the production of local digital content, and support the emergence of national start-ups.
However, these objectives come in a context marked by a significant digital divide. According to official data, nearly 70% of Niger’s population still does not have access to the Internet, while 3G and 4G network coverage remains uneven, with rural areas being far less connected than urban centers.
To improve connectivity, several major programs have been launched with the support of technical and financial partners. Among them is the "Smart Villages” project, supported by the World Bank, which aims to connect more than 2,000 rural localities, bring high-speed internet to schools and health centers, and promote the development of mobile payments.
At the same time, the government is working to strengthen digital infrastructure, particularly through the construction of a national data center intended to host public data, the expansion of the fiber-optic network, and the improvement of mobile coverage.
The implementation of this strategy will rely on a coordination and monitoring-evaluation mechanism responsible for ensuring the execution of the planned actions and achieving the set objectives.