Le Niger inaugure l’aéroport rénové de Diffa dans le sud-est du pays
The Diffa airport is now used as an operational base for multinational troops involved in the fight against the Boko Haram sect that is operating between Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon.
The Mamadou Tandja Airport in Diffa is now dressed in its new clothes. On the occasion of the Diffa N'Glaa festival, the President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, inaugurated the renovated platform, located in the south-east of the country, on 19 December 2021. This renovation cost about CFAF 28 billion, mainly supported by a loan from the West African Development Bank (BOAD).
The extension works included the expansion of the runway from 1,800 to 3,000 metres in length and from 45 to 60 metres in width, the redevelopment of a taxiway and an apron capable of accommodating 5 medium-sized aircraft. The construction of a modern presidential lounge and a 110 KVA emergency power generator, among other things, were also discussed.
This renovation "aims to ensure the stabilisation of air traffic through the improvement of airport infrastructure, contributing directly to the international attractiveness, and the strengthening of security and the improvement of mobility, the mobilisation of production factors at lower costs and the economic and social development of the region".
The renovation of the Diffa airport is in line with the Niger Renaissance Act II programme, and is consistent with the BOAD's Djoliba 2021-2025 strategic plan, particularly its three operational axes, namely: strengthening regional integration (Axis 1); contributing to the creation of value and productive jobs for the States and the private sector (Axis 2), and strengthening resilience to climate change (Axis 3).
The Diffa hub has been renamed "Mamadou TANDJA Airport of Diffa" in honour of the former President of the Republic of Niger (November 1999 - February 2010) who died on 24 November 2020 in Niamey.
