Onitsha

Onitsha Ọ̀nị̀chà Mmílí Port City
Metropolis
From Top to Left to Right: Onitsha Stock Exchange; Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity; DMGS Roundabout; Dennis Memorial Grammar School; Onitsha International Market; Second Niger Bridge; First Niger Bridge; All Saints Cathedral.
Nickname(s):  Port City, Onitsha(Osha), Otu, Otu Nkwo
Motto:  Eastern/Nigeria Hub For Economic Activities
Anthem: "With all our hearts, We Pray and ask"
Onitsha Location of Onitsha in Nigeria Show map of Nigeria Onitsha Onitsha (Africa) Show map of Africa
Coordinates: 6°10′N 6°47′E / 6.167°N 6.783°E / 6.167; 6.783
Country	Nigeria
State	Anambra State
LGA(s)[note 1]	List of LGAs Mainland: Onitsha North, Onitsha South[note 2] Urban Conurbations: Parts of Anambra East, Idemili North, Idemili South, Ogbaru, Oyi
Founded	1550
Settled	15th century
Incorporated city	19th century
Government
• Type	Constitutional Monarchy, Executive Government, Local Government
• Governor	Charles Chukwuma Soludo (APGA)
• Legislature	Anambra State House of Assembly
• Anambra North District	N: Tony Nwoye (LP)
• Constitutional Monarchy	HRH, Alfred Achebe. Obi Of Onitsha
Area [2]
• Metropolis	830 km2 (320 sq mi)
• Land	614.12 km2 (237.11 sq mi)
• Water	0.067 km2 (0.026 sq mi)
• Urban	1,965 km2 (759 sq mi)
• Metro	1,965 km2 (759 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[4]
• Metropolis	1,695,000[1]
• Urban	7,985,643
• Urban density	4,100/km2 (11,000/sq mi)
• Metro	8,320,664[3]
• Demonym	Onye Onicha (singular) Ndi Onicha (plural) (Igbo)
GDP (PPP, 2015 int. Dollar)
• Year	2023
• Total	$18,5 billion[5]
• Per capita	$11,400
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)
Postcode	430...[6]
Area code	046
National language	Igbo
Website	anambrastate.gov.ng

Onitsha (Igbo: Ọ̀nị̀chà Mmílí^[7] or simply Ọ̀nị̀chà) is a city on the eastern bank of the Niger River, in Anambra State, Nigeria. Anambra states largest city, Onitsha is known for its river port and is a regional hub for commerce, industry, and education. It is the central city of one of the largest metropolitan areas in Nigeria with a fast growing population. It hosts the Onitsha Main Market, the largest market in Africa in terms of geographical size and volume of goods. Onitsha along with various cities and towns in southern Anambra State, northern Imo State and neighboring Delta State on the western bank of the Niger River, form a continuous metropolitan area.^[8][9]

As of 2016, the greater Onitsha area had an estimated population of around 8 million people in central and southern Anambra state extending into neighboring Delta state to the west and Imo state to the south.^[10] Spread across parts of these 3 states, the greater Onitsha area is regarded as one of the largest metropolitan areas in Nigeria by both population and landmass.^[11] The continuous urban sprawl or conurbation of greater Onitsha spreads across several separate cities and their satellite towns and suburbs including Asaba, Obosi, Ogbaru, Nnewi, the Anambra State capital Awka down to Orlu in Imo State.^[12] As of early 2024, Onitsha city proper has an estimated population of 1,695,000.^[13]

The indigenous people of Onitsha are Igbo and speak the Igbo language with Onitsha being the largest urban area and commercial hub of the Igboland region of Nigeria, the Igbo people’s indigenous homeland. The Onitsha people are referred to as Ndi Onicha in Igbo. English and Nigerian Pidgin English are also widely spoken. Although the population is largely Igbo, there are many other ethnic groups in the Onitsha area mainly from other Nigerian ethnicities indigenous to the southeast of the country due to Onitshas position as an economic hub in the region.

According to Africapolis,^[14][15] the greater Onitsha metropolis will be regarded as one of the most densely populated areas in the world by 2050. In 2023, McKinsey predicted that the greater Onitsha metropolis area will double in human development by 2045 with the current expansion rate.^[7]

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