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)[3]
• Metropolis	3,553,000[1]
• Urban	7,985,643
• Urban density	4,100/km2 (11,000/sq mi)
• Metro	8,197,540
• Metro density	4,200/km2 (11,000/sq mi)
• Demonym	Onye Onicha (singular) Ndi Onicha (plural) (Igbo)
GDP (PPP, 2015 int. Dollar)
• Year	2023
• Total	$18,5 billion[4]
• Per capita	$11,400
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)
Postcode	430...[5]
Area code	046
National language	Igbo
Website	anambrastate.gov.ng

Onitsha (Igbo: Ọ̀nị̀chà Mmílí^[6] or simply Ọ̀nị̀chà) is a city on the eastern bank of the Niger River, in Anambra State, Nigeria. A metropolitan city, Onitsha is known for its river port and as an economic hub for commerce, industry, and education. It is one of the largest metropolitan area 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 and neighboring Asaba on the western bank of the Niger River form a continuous metropolitan area.^[7][8]

As of 2016, Onitsha had an estimated urban population of 12,197,544 people.^[3] As of early 2022, Onitsha has a rising city proper estimated population of 8,345,360.^[9] The indigenous people of Onitsha are Igbo and speak the Igbo language. The Onitsha people are referred to as Ndi Onicha, the Onitsha greater metropolis built-up area is regarded as one of the largest metropolitan areas in Africa, the largest metropolitan area by landmass in Nigeria, and the largest in terms of Igbo population. There are more African languages spoken in the Onitsha than any elsewhere in the world. The continuous urban sprawl or conurbation spreads across separate towns from Asaba Onitsha Obosi Ogbaru Nnewi Awka down to Orlu in Imo state. According to Africapolis,^[10][11] the Onitsha greater metropolis will, by 2050, be regarded as one of the most densely populated areas in the world. In 2023, McKinsey predicted that the Onitsha greater metropolis area will double in human development by 2045 with the current expansion rate (citation needed).^[6]

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