Trying to figure out if buses and metros in Niger take cards or if Ill need small cash. Any recent experiences?
Public transport in Niger is definitely cash-only territory. The buses are mostly old minibuses where you pay the driver on the spot, no card readers or anything fancy. No metros are operational, so plan your trips accordingly. I got my CFA francs at Ecobank ATMs in Niamey, which was convenient before hopping on the bus.
I used buses in Niger recently and can confirm they’re totally cash-only. The government hasn’t introduced metro systems in cities yet, so it’s just buses and taxis. Keep small CFA franc denominations with you-they don’t give change and expect you to pay what you owe exactly. Cards? Not on public transport for now.
If you’re planning to use buses in Niger, small cash is a must. I rode local buses around Niamey and Agadez, and no one accepted cards. Fares are super cheap, usually less than 200 CFA francs, but you’ll need small notes to pay the driver directly. No metro system either, so don’t bother looking for card payments.
From my trip to Niamey, the buses definitely only take cash. The public transport system is pretty basic, and drivers expect exact change in West African CFA francs. I tried once asking if cards work, and they just laughed. So carry plenty of small bills and coins. Also, no metro systems to worry about, just buses and shared taxis called 'kwikwi'.