Onitsha
Nigeria · Africa
About Onitsha
Onitsha (Igbo: Ọ̀nị̀chà Mmílí or simply Ọ̀nị̀chà) is a city on the eastern bank of the Niger River, in Anambra State, Nigeria. 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.
As of 2016, the greater Onitsha area had an estimated population of around eight million people in central and southern Anambra state extending into neighboring Delta state to the west and Imo state to the south. Spread across parts of these three states, the greater Onitsha area is regarded as one of the largest metropolitan areas in Nigeria by both population and landmass. The continuous urban sprawl or conurbation of greater Onitsha spreads across several separate cities and their satellite towns and suburbs including Asaba, Obosi, Ogidi, Oba, Ogbaru, Nnewi, the Anambra State capital Awka down to Orlu in Imo State. As of 2025, Onitsha city proper has an estimated population of 5,628,000.
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, 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.
Onitsha travel guide
Understand
The city has had a somewhat tumultuous past. From the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries, it was developed as a centre of trade and dissemination of Christian mission work by the British. Following Nigerian independence though, Onitsha fared front and centre and lay decimated by collateral damage during the Nigerian-Biafran war of 1967-1971. Since then, oil ventures have brought in a stream of revenue but along with it swaths of people seeking a piece of that prize, resulting in overcrowding, lawlessness, and zoning unsightliness.
Onitsha is also distinguished by being a centre of Nollywood film distribution and the navigable endpoint for most shipping up the Niger River.
Climate
Onitsha has two seasons,the wet season and the dry season with a short spell of harmattan. The wet season is mostly cold and partly warm, oppressive, and overcast. It starts from April to September annually. The dry season that is usually hot, muggy, and partly cloudy starts from late October of the previous year to March of the coming year. Harmattan starts from December to February.
Agriculture Krisoral Agro-Allied Company Limited is an agro-allied company that is into growing and production of rice in Onitsha.
Get in
By plane It is fairly directly connected to Lagos by road, some 450 km away. There is also some limited regional transit by air available through 1 Asaba International Airport (ABB IATA), ☏ +234 7039119444. (updated Aug 2020) nearby.
By bus Through the Niger Bridge, you can travel by road to Onitsha. There are several transport companies that operate routes to Onitsha, including GUO Transport, Peace Mass Transit Ltd, GIGM (God is Good Motors Ltd), Evergreen Transport, Ezenwata Motors, Young Shall Grow Motors, Libra Motors, Okeyson Investment Ltd., and many others. From about ₦3,000, you can get a vehicle from nearby destinations, but the exact fare depends on your departure location.
Get around
There are tricycles and cabs everywhere which one can easily board to move to anywhere within the city.
See
Onitsha is a little short on sights.
1 Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Cathedral, Awka Rd (off Mission Road north of market), ☏ +234 7066006646. On the bank of the Niger River where the first missionaries landed in the Onitsha area circa 1850, and where the first Nigerian priest to be beatified, Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi, is buried. Seat of archbishop for Anambra state. (updated Aug 2020) 2 Nelson Mandela Gardens, Asaba (next to the Asaba Airport), ☏ +234 7061842154. M-Sa 10AM-7PM, Su noon-7PM, closed M. A little park commemorating Nelson
Do
1 Onitsha Market, Edozie Lane, ☏ +234 7065562455. Claimed to be the biggest market in Africa by geographic size, likely to be a little intense. One sector is focused on electronics. (updated Aug 2020) 2 Onitsha River Beach. Well, the river might smell like poo, but it's a beach anyway. Actually, this is quite a busy locale as there is a major sand harvesting operation going on here, with (naked?) guys jumping off of pirogues to scoop up sand from the riverbed, all of which is sold for profits. But, all in all, with this and the amount of waste entering the river, this might not be a very nice place to hang out. (updated Aug 2020) 3 Iyke Christian Brother Trading Enterprise, Ochanja Market, Zik ave, city centre, ☏ +234-803-447-9245. Opens 7AM, closes 6PM. This place is amazing for shopping. It's a place where you can get all kinds of footwear at a very affordable rate. It's also one of the big markets in Onitsha. (updated Jun 2021) Ofala Festival. Takes place annually in October. Ofala festival in Onitsha is considered unique because it is the first Ofala in the Igbo tribe. (updated Feb 2024)
Buy
1 Onitsha Market (Onitsha Main Market), Edozie Lane, Main Market. M-Sa 7:30AM-5PM. Onitsha Market is the one of the largest markets in West Africa based on geographical size and volume of goods. Most of the major import merchants from Eastern Nigeria have their head offices within the market. Items sold within the market include jewellery, clothing, household, industrial and office equipment. (updated Jun 2021) 2 Relief Market (Ogbaru Main Market), 7 Obodo ukwu Road, Awada layout, ☏ +234-703-924-6809. Opens 8AM. Relief Market is regarded as one of the biggest provision markets in Onitsha. (updated Jan 2023) 3 Mybuka Market Obosi, Onitsha-Owerri Expressway, Owerri road layout, ☏ +234-808-072-6942. Sell, Do waybill, fix vehicle at a very affordable price in the market, they also dealer of any kind of tyre cover for any model such as Toyota, Lexus, and Ford. (updated Jan 2023)
Eat
1 The Rodinia Restaurant and Bar, Summit Junction by Rain Oil filling Station, Asaba, ☏ +234 7030625563. Daily 8AM-10PM. A quick eatery for economically-priced African dishes close to airport. (updated Aug 2020) 2 Five Star Restaurant, Ridge Road (few blocks east of basilica), ☏ +234 7067678615. Daily 7:30AM-9:30PM. A neat looking place with African food. (updated Aug 2020) 3 Chinemeze Restaurant, 5 Ichida St, mcc 434243, Onitsha. A restaurant where you can get contemporary Nigerian dishes. (updated Dec 2021) 4 Madam Gbowa Restaurant Obosi, Anyoku street, behind Obosi town hall, ☏ +234 803 360 2317. 9AM-8PM. A restaurant where contemporary Nigerian dishes is sold. (updated Dec 2021) 5 Somma Eatery, Mandela line at ochanja market,Onitsha north,Onitsha. 9AM-9PM. Dine in. Take away. Delivery. NGN. (updated May 2022) 6 Gracespot Eatery, 25 Benjamin Street, GRA Onitsha, ☏ +234 8038907312. 10AM-9:30PM. Dine in. Take away. Delivery. (updated May 2022)
Drink & nightlife
1 Remmy Grills and Bar, Unnamed road ogbunike, Nkpor, ☏ +234-813-066-1093. Their service includes, restaurant and bar. They sell all kinds of beer, wine (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), soft drink. (updated Jan 2023)
Sleep
1 Best Western Plus Elomaz Hotel, Plot 22 A/B-27 Core Area, DBS Rd, Gra 320241 (across Niger River in Asaba), ☏ +234 8038193264. Pool, spa, dining, free breakfast, wifi. (updated Aug 2020) 2 Soprom Hotel & Suites Ltd, 1,Ogbatuluenyi Drive, Federal Housing Estate, ☏ +234-813-629-5492. Check-in: noon, check-out: noon. they offer good customer care service, good rooms, clean environment, cozy and comfortable, homely, the meal served appropriately, stomach friendly. They also have popular Amenities like: pool, spa, free parking, free breakfast, WiFi (fast internet connection), room service 24 hours and it's also children friendly. ₦16,000. (updated Jan 2023) 3 Dolly Hills, 3, Dr lady Ngozi Agbasimalo Road, ☏ +234-703-451-3661, [email protected]. Check-out: noon. Dolly Hills hotel is a quite appreciable place with lots of outlooks like bar,garden,pool and many lodging suits from presidential to regular. They also have popular amenities like, swimming pool, free parking,free breakfast, restaurant, fitness center and it's also children friendly, the cheapest room is ₦9,000. (updated Jan 2023)
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.