In West Africa, water security remains one of the most persistent challenges. For millions of households in Niger, access to safe drinking water is the last line of defense against disease. Yet a provisional audit by the country’s Court of Accounts covering 2023 and 2024 — alongside recent public procurement procedures — paints a troubling picture of the state-owned water utility, the Nigérienne des Eaux (NDE). The findings point to a deeper story: a utility caught between aging infrastructure, financial hemorrhage and internal governance failures that together threaten public health and the continuity of a vital service.
Bacterial contamination far above WHO safety thresholds
Bacteriological analyses conducted across several regional centers reveal staggering deviations from World Health Organization guidelines. The international standard requires zero germs per 100 milliliters (0 CFU/100 ml). Instead, samples showed alarmingly high bacterial presence:
- Doutchi: 50,100 CFU / 100 ml
- Maradi: 30,200 CFU / 100 ml
- Filingué: 17,120 CFU / 100 ml
The root cause lies largely in the deterioration of the distribution network — 6,957 kilometers of pipes suffering between 20,000 and 40,000 leaks every year. These ruptures allow wastewater to seep in and pressure to drop. At the same time, chlorine dosing, the cornerstone of disinfection, swings erratically: under-dosing in Tillabéri and Dosso, over-dosing in Niamey. The situation is made worse by recurring shortages of treatment products such as calcium hypochlorite and the use of expired reagents in control laboratories, leaving the utility unable to certify the potability of the water it delivers.
Network losses and failed deliveries: a financial abyss
On the financial side, non-revenue water is estimated at 17.9 million cubic meters per year, translating into a direct revenue loss of about 5.3 billion CFA francs for state coffers. Beyond these structural losses, several key public contracts have been poorly executed:
- The network equipment contract (DAO No. 001/2025): Awarded in late 2025 to Nascom for 950 million CFA francs including tax, the main lot covering connection equipment is significantly delayed. Despite an advance payment of roughly 250 million CFA francs, the goods remain stuck with the manufacturer in Tunisia, freezing new user connections.
- Renewal of treatment products (DAO No. 009/2026): An open tender launched in September 2026 by NDE’s general management for the urgent supply of calcium hypochlorite underscores the pressing need to secure water treatment plants.
Internal governance under challenge
The document also highlights weaknesses in internal control and human resources management. Unilateral spending decisions, accelerated promotions that bypass standard seniority grids, and the absence of certified training programs for network technicians undermine the company’s technical expertise chain. As the adversarial phase of the Court of Accounts report continues and parties exercise their right of reply, these revelations underscore the urgent need for deep structural reforms within the Nigérienne des Eaux — to guarantee both the continuity of public service and the health security of the population.