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Onitsha ( 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 people 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 language and Nigerian Pidgin 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.
Ado N' Idu was a very close ally of the Benin Kingdom. The inhabitants were ruled by the Oba of Benin although the town has a dictator. The people of Ado N'Idu waged war against the Benin people after the king sent his Army Council, which was headed by Gbunwala to fight them following the assault of his mother Asije, the Queen-Mother of Benin City, who was assaulted by farmers when she trespassed the farm. The Benin forces were about 5000 soldiers. After weeks of war, Chima realised that the Benin forces had upper hand and may win them, hence he summoned the tribal chiefs, who passed a resolution to emigrate the land. During their emigration, and few miles to their destination, they made an agreement that anyone who will disembark and make an Ufie, a telegraphic drum would be their king. One of Chima's son fulfilled the agreement, but also left the kingship to his father because he was a minor.
Upon reaching Onitsha, they confronted the Ozes, a hostile tribe then. It took days for the people of Ado N'Idu to drive the Oze people out, but also enslaved them. However, the people of Oze founded other towns such as Obosi, Asaba, Abo, Atani, Oba, Nkwele, and Aguleri. Chima made Onitsha his headquarters. He divided it into nine principal divisions and other subdivisions: Umudei, Umuasele, Ogeabu, Odojele, Ogbe-ozala, Umuaroli, Ogboli (divisible into Ogboli Eke, Iru Obodo, Ogboli Agbor), Ogbo-odogwu, Ogbe-ikporo, Umuikem, Umuotu, Isiokwe, Iyawu, and Ogbembubu. Other divisions were founded and they included Onitsha-Ugbo, Onitsha-Olona and Onitsha-Mili. Onitsha was then called Onitsha-Mili or Onit- sha-Ado-N'Idu, which means that the place is watered by various rivers, or that the place is the foster daughter of Ado N'Idu. Chima created the Order of Ozo inorder to distinguish the nobles from the general inhabitants. Chima's rule favored political and economic imperialism. He established the Onitsha Ofala Festival, where the king comes out and interviews his subjects once in a year. Historians agree that the traditional sacredness and secrecy of the festival has been affected by the "pax Britannica".
Some sources argues that Onitsha began in the 16th century, when Eze Chima, a native doctor who descended from Eri, was invited by Oba Esigie of Benin during the Benin-Igala war. Esigie had heard of a native doctor and of the tales of his diabolical powers, he ordered his men to bring Chima to his palace so he may help Benin win their war. After the war was won, Chima would found the kingdom of Ado N'Idu, after having been given land by Esigie.
However, a collapse in the relationship between Esigie and Chima would occur due to, depending on the account, of the Queen Mother, Idia, having either been beaten by Chima's men for intruding on their farmland, or having been denied tribute, would demand retribution from Esigie. Esigie, would call upon Gbunwara, the leader of the Benin army, to wage war on Ado N'Idu, and Chima informed of this gathered his men, and fought a fierce war against the armies of Benin for several days, before being overwhelmed by their superior numbers, and for the survival of his people, mounting a retreat.
Eze Chima, and his retinue of warriors and extended family, would leave their kingdom of Ado N'Idu to seek a new pasture, and many of the retinue branching off to found their own settlements, such as Onicha-Olona, Onicha Ugbo, Obio etc. Eventually, once reaching the west bank of the Niger, Chima would die before they could cross, leaving the rest of the retinue to be led by his son, Oraeze, who lead them across the river and named their new settlement, Ọ̀nị̀chà Mmílí, or Onitsha-on-water, the kingdom of Onitsha was founded.
In 1857 British Empire palm oil traders established a permanent station in the city with Christian missionaries joining them..
In 1900 Onitsha became part of a British protectorate. The British colonial government and Christian missionaries penetrated most of Igboland to set up their administration, schools and churches through the river port at Onitsha.
In 1965, the Niger River Bridge was built across the Niger River to replace the ferry crossing. This has helped to grow trade routes with western Nigeria and created significant economic linkages between Onitsha and Benin City and Lagos particularly.
Onitsha has played a creative role in the transformation to urban life in Eastern Nigeria famous as the setting for Onitsha Market Literature and as one of the hubs for the financing and distribution of Nollywood films.
Infrastructure has not kept pace with urbanization and haphazard building practices without zoning regulations has left in its wake a chaotic and congested city rife with lawlessness. The World Health Organization Global Urban Ambient Air Pollution database's 2016 update indicates that Onitsha is the most polluted city in Africa.
In recent times with the encroachment of neighboring communities, the Onitsha people have been involved in disputes over land ownership in the surrounding area with the people of Obosi and Nkwelle Ezunaka.Vincent Ujumadu (June 17, 2013). "17 injured, bus burnt as Onitsha, Obosi youths clash over land". Vanguard. Retrieved September 2, 2014. Nigeria: "Nkwelle-Ezunaka Battles Onitsha Over Land" . Nkwelle Ezunaka Union USA. Retrieved September 2, 2014. Fegge, Awada, and 3-3 are Onitsha metropolitan areas being disputed by the communities of Obosi and Nkwelle Ezunaka, respectively.
Rapid urbanization in recent years although promoting the economy, negatively affects natural vegetation and local landscape. the region is also considerably erosion prone
In 2002, Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju abolished the free education policy and announced tuition fees of 3,000 naira per term for state-owned secondary school students. The decision followed protests by students in Onitsha and Awka, hence prompted the government to reduce the fees to 1,900 naira. On 21 September 2023, the government of Charles Soludo announced that, starting with the academic year 2023–2024, parents will no longer pay school fees for students in nursery to junior secondary in public schools. Meanwhile, students of senior secondary schools will be paying 5,000 naira as school fees. On 26 September 2024, the government removed tuition fee entirely for all students. The directive saw controversy in Onitsha when four principals were suspended by the government for allegedly demanding school fees from their students.
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