Niger has accused aid agencies of exaggerating the threat of severe food shortages next year to boost their funds and threatened to expel any organisation operating without government blessing.
Health Minister Ary Ibrahim said reports of a looming crisis were aimed at harming Niger, after a World Food Programme dossier warned last week that millions of people could face severe food shortages if donor countries let aid funding slip.
This year's crisis left an estimated 3.6 million people short of food - a third of the population - after drought and locusts ravaged Niger's harvest in late 2004. Malnutrition threatened the lives of tens of thousands of children.
"After a good rainy season, the food crisis is finished," Ibrahim told a news conference late on Monday. "I categorically deny these tendentious reports aimed at discrediting our country.
"We will not allow an NGO or any other organisation to manage funds behind our backs and make publicity, propaganda even, to raise money."
Despite accusing aid groups of exaggeration, the government has recognised that nearly 2 million people could face difficulties in 2006 due to late crop sowing, an early halt to rains and soil erosion.
The government has launched an investigation to discover why NGOs have spent only 4 billion CFA francs ($7.2 million) from 50 billion raised to tackle the crisis, Ibrahim said.