The border crossing between Niger and Nigeria at Birnin Konni sits just a few kilometres south of town along the main highway. It is one of the busiest land crossings in West Africa, with constant truck traffic, motorcycle taxis, traders carrying goods in both directions, and the general controlled chaos of a crossing where two countries' worth of customs bureaucracy meets commercial pressure.
Even if you are not crossing, the border area gives a vivid picture of how the Sahelian economy actually works — the flow of Nigerian petroleum north, Nigerien agricultural products south, and a ceaseless exchange of goods that official statistics barely capture. Currency traders offer Naira alongside West African CFA francs. Formalities at the crossing are generally straightforward for tourists with the right visas.