Diori Hamani International Airport (IATA: NIM, ICAO: DRRN) serves as a crucial air transport hub in Niger. It is located 9 km (5.6 mi) from Niamey, the capital of Niger, in the south-eastern suburbs of the city, along the Route Nationale 1, the major highway linking Niamey with the east of the nation.
In 2019, the airport served 363,093 passengers. The airport is the main civil airport but is also home to the armed forces of Niger.
Airside Services and Activities at Diori Hamani International Airport
Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, Niger.
Airport Facilities and Operations
ASECNA operates the "African School for Meteorology and Civil Aviation/Ecole Africaine de la Météorologie et de l'Aviation Civile" at the Niamey airport complex, as well as in the Plateau quarter of Niamey city centre. The Niger Air Force maintains Base Aérienne 101, which is collocated with Diori Hamani International Airport.
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OCEM has received a new turnkey contract for the delivery of a new Airfield Ground Lighting Control System (ALCMS), LED Lighting and Signs for Diori Hamani International Airport managed by ASECNA. This new contract - which includes design, installation and commissioning of all AGL equipment - confirms OCEM’s leading position when it comes to the supply of Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) solutions on the continent.
Airfield Ground Lighting Control System (ALCMS) at Diori Hamani International Airport.
Expansion and Development
The airfield ground lighting consists of OCEM’s latest generation AGL LED which will help the airport enjoy the full benefits from OCEM’s low energy consuming solutions.
Recent Developments
Recently, there have been significant geopolitical shifts affecting the airport's operations. In the aftermath of the 2023 Nigerien coup d'état, both France and the United States were told to withdraw their military personnel from the country. In May 2024, reports indicated that Russian troops had entered the base housing US military personnel at the airport.
Nigeria Four Airport Terminal Expansion Project
On July 10, 2013, China Eximbank and the Government of Nigeria signed a $500 million preferential buyer’s credit (PBC) agreement for the Nigeria Four Airport Terminal Expansion Project (Abuja, Kano, Lagos, and Port Harcourt).
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The project involved the expansion of four airport terminals in:
- Abuja International Airport
- Port Harcourt International Airport
- Murtala Muhammed International Airport
- Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport
The new terminal of Abuja International Airport covers an area of 56,000 square meters and is connected to the Abuja City Railway via a 60-meter-long air corridor. It has 66 check-in counters, 5 baggage carousels, an immigration check-in port, and 16 departure immigration checkpoints.
The new terminal at Murtala Muhammed International Airport consists of 66 check-in-counters, 16 immigration desks at arrival, 28 immigration desks at departure, 8 security screening points, 6 passenger boarding bridges, 2 food courts, 4 premium lounges, 22 guest rooms and spa, 16 airline ticketing offices, a visa on arrival and port health facility, a praying area, more than 3,000 square meters of duty-free space, and approximately 5,000 square meters of lettable utility space.
Upon completion, it was envisaged that the four expanded airport terminals will increase passenger capacity from 20 million to 50 million and increase jobs from the 60,000 to 1.5 million employees.
China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) is the contractor responsible for implementation. Construction began on or around February 13, 2014.
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The new terminal at Port Harcourt International Airport was delivered on October 25, 2018. The new terminal of Abuja International Airport was delivered on December 12, 2018. The new terminal at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport was completed in November 2019. The new terminal at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos was completed and officially inaugurated on March 22, 2022.
Additional Funding
Due to faults in the original construction of the terminals and other factors, the Nigerian Government requested additional funding for terminal construction activities from China Eximbank.
On December 27, 2019, China Eximbank and the Government of Nigeria signed two additional PBC agreements:
- a $208,905,161.50 PBC for the Four Airport Terminal Expansion Project Incremental Project
- a $183,621,056.89 PBC for the Four Airport Terminal Expansion Project Ancillary Project
Airlines and Destinations
Several airlines operate at Diori Hamani International Airport, connecting Niamey to various destinations. These include:
- Air Cote d'Ivoire
- Air France
- Air Senegal
- Ethiopian Airlines
- Sky Mali
Destinations include Lome (Togo), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), and Casablanca.
Aerial view of Niamey Airport in Niger.
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