City (pop., 1999: metro. area, 731,000), capital of Niger, along the Niger River .
Originally an agricultural village of Maouri, Zerma, and Fulani peoples, it became the capital of Niger colony in 1926 and grew rapidly after World War II. At the intersection of trade routes, it has residents from other parts of Niger, as well as Yoruba and Hausa traders, merchants, officials, and craftsmen from Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. It is a commercial centre and home to Université Abdou Moumouni (1971).