Niger extends census period for second time amid coverage gaps
Authorities in Niamey have announced an additional extension of the national census period, marking the second consecutive extension since its initial launch.
The decision, formalized in a directive from the Prime Minister, aims to broaden coverage across households, individuals, and agricultural operations nationwide. Implementation challenges have emerged, particularly in urban centers like Niamey and Zinder, where newly developed neighborhoods remain unaccounted for due to outdated mapping.
According to census commission officials, only 60.4% of the population has been registered since the first phase began in April. Persistent issues include delayed payments to field agents, which have led to sporadic disruptions, low participation rates among certain households, and linguistic barriers in multilingual regions.
Security concerns in high-risk zones have further complicated the process, with some areas inaccessible to enumerators. The ongoing census, the fourth of its kind, seeks to provide updated demographic and agricultural data critical for national planning.