Niger’s Advisory Council for the Refoundation has called on the government to consider raising fuel prices “by reasonable margins” and to make the Algerian corridor a priority route for securing supplies to the country’s northern regions, as part of a package of recommendations aimed at averting a potential economic and food crisis.

The recommendations came at the close of the council’s first extraordinary session of 2026, which wrapped up Tuesday in Niamey under council president Dr. Mamoudou Harouna Djingarey, with members of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, government officials, heads of institutions and defense and security commanders in attendance.

Energy: audit of Sonidep and a fully digital distribution chain

On energy, the council urged the government to diversify its sources of petroleum imports, clarify how the sector is managed, and subject the Nigerien Petroleum Products Company, Sonidep, to an institutional and financial audit.

It also recommended reviewing fuel flows and fully digitizing the distribution chain, while providing Sonidep with financial support to help it overcome import-related difficulties.

The council stressed the need to reduce Niger’s vulnerability to oil-market shocks by developing refining and storage capacity and diversifying energy sources.

Early warning on food and pastoral crises

Turning to the outcome of the 2026 farming season, the council called for strengthening the national system for preventing and managing crises and disasters, and for speeding up the assessment and mapping of food and nutritional needs across the country.

It also demanded that livestock movements be organized and that transit routes, water points, grazing areas and reception sites be secured, in order to head off potential conflicts between farmers and herders.

The council further recommended releasing budget allocations earmarked for government bodies responsible for food security and agricultural inputs, so that emergency stocks of animal feed, seeds, and agricultural and veterinary supplies can be mobilized, along with the necessary water, food and logistical resources.

Council president: “important” recommendations for preemptive action

Council president Mamoudou Harouna Djingarey said the discussions produced recommendations he described as important for the sectors concerned, expressing hope that they would help the government take preemptive measures to prevent a food or economic crisis in Niger.