Niger government mandates purchase of local products to boost economic sovereignty
In a decisive move to promote national production, the Nigerien government has adopted two key texts during its Council of Ministers on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. The measures are designed to protect local industries and stimulate the country’s economic sovereignty.
The first text, a draft decree, mandates the purchase of local products. This policy directly implements the third axis of the President of the Republic’s vision, titled “Developing the foundations of production for economic sovereignty.”
According to a government statement, the measure aims to promote the production, processing, marketing, and consumption of local goods, while diversifying and developing national value chains.
Concretely, the decree requires public administrations, state-owned enterprises, and entities receiving public subsidies to prioritize locally made products in their procurement, except in cases of unavailability.
The government states this will stimulate domestic demand, support national producers, and reduce dependency on imports.
The second adopted text, a draft ordinance, establishes import quotas. This complementary measure sets quantitative limits on the importation of goods that are similar to those manufactured or produced domestically.
The goal is to regulate foreign competition in order to protect local businesses and encourage productive investment.
The government communiqué highlighted that the massive presence of imported products has, for years, unbalanced the domestic market, leading to the closure of industrial units, a decline in private investment, and reduced employment opportunities.
By instituting these quotas, the Nigerien state aims to correct these imbalances while ensuring the domestic market remains sufficiently supplied. Sanctions for non-compliance with the new provisions are also planned to ensure their effective and rigorous application.
Through these decisions, the government reaffirms its political will to defend national production and build a self-sufficient, competitive Nigerien economy, aligning with the President’s vision focused on sovereignty, resilience, and sustainable development.
Fayçal BADIE
