Onitsha

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]