Nigeriens adjust consumption habits to historic inflation: Video

In Niamey markets, locals are bargaining over the prices of basic goods like rice, a crucial staple now unaffordable for many Nigerien families due to the country's historic inflation. "If you can afford lunch, you save a portion for dinner," Hadjia Hadjara, a resident of Niamey, told the AFP. "There's no longer the option of preparing two hearty meals a day."

Mahaman Nouri, President of the Consumer Rights Association (CSPA), explains, "It’s adaptation - that’s resilience, adapting to the situation. I know many who didn’t use to eat corn paste, but now they’ve adapted and understood they need to turn to local products. Even many well-placed officials have shifted to local goods."

Idrissou Issoufou, a Ghanaian truck driver, describes the hardships of transporting goods through the region, saying, "We transport cargo from Ghana, then stay in Kaya (Burkina Faso) to wait for military escorts to Dori (Burkina Faso), where new escorts take over until Téra (Niger). The challenges begin there, continuing all the way to Niamey."

Beninese merchant Salamatou Gna shares the difficulties of transporting goods, stating, "We face significant challenges shipping products from Benin to Gaya (Niger) by boat. We spend a lot of money. The border closure creates real obstacles, and it’s largely responsible for the high prices of goods."

Vendor Illa Jikan Taguimba notes, "We are blamed for the price hikes, but it’s not our fault. Sometimes, we can’t even find basic products in Niger. Even simple things like tomatoes often come from Morocco, Nigeria, Ghana, or Togo."

Hadjia Hadjara concludes, "If you can afford lunch, you save a portion for dinner, but it’s no longer a question of preparing two hearty meals a day."