By Pat Onukwuli
Famed for being an economic and commercial powerhouse and boasts of hosting Africa’s largest market in terms of geographical size and volume of goods, Onitsha is the jewel nestled on the banks of the majestic River Niger.
Like a multifaceted prism, it refracted and reflected brilliance in its glory days. As Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio would say in his book Onitsha, the city unfolded against vibrancy and rich cultural tapestry. Gloomily, the jewel is in peril and no longer shines. Its lost lustre echoes the fragility of dreams, once radiant, but now fractured, casting fragmented shadows where once there were dazzling glows. Its commercial activities have brought it both prosperity and challenges.
The well-regarded Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, stated in his 2023 Ofala message that Onitsha is failing. He contended that its residents are hurting from chronic urbanisation pressures of constant traffic congestion, dwindling opportunities, youth unemployment, gangsterism, touting, homelessness, petty and armed robbery, cultism, drug addiction, and child prostitution.
These problems occur because of a lack of preparation and planning to stem the tide of uncontrolled rural-urban migration that has been surging.
Unfortunately, urbanisation has failed to bring about inclusive prosperity, resulting in a proliferation of urban vices. Again, Onitsha, like Aba, Warri, Zaria, and Oyo, has the added disadvantage of being a large conurbation that is not a state capital. Not being a seat of government has meant it has had to contend with the historic problem of notorious under-resourcing and under-funding.
Heavy traffic congestion remains the most formidable adversary of all these challenges as it hinders economic progress in this commercial heartbeat.
Anyone familiar with Onitsha can attest to the daily struggles of navigating its congested roads. The convergence of various traffic streams, including heavy-duty vehicles, intra-city transportation, and commercial activities, has created a perfect congestion storm that impedes residents and businesses. The arteries of the city, once flowing smoothly with the exchange of goods and services, are now choked, leading to a myriad of consequences reverberating through the local economy.
Even though impaired, with artificial limbs, Onitsha can bounce back because allowing it to fail is not an option. Just as a prosthesis can provide support and enable functionality for individuals with physical limitations, it requires strategic measures or interventions to restore and enhance its functionality. In the metaphorical sense, critical road infrastructure would act as a support system for economic mobility. Necessary roads will facilitate the smooth flow of goods and services, serving as mobility support for businesses to navigate and thrive within the city and enable it to reach its full potential.
Fortuitously, the current Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, promised to prioritise Onitsha during his gubernatorial electioneering campaigns. On his inauguration as Governor, he reiterated that he would clean up Onitsha and make it a modern city. He insisted that he would equally clean the river Niger, modernise Onitsha and make it the Dubai of Africa. In keeping with this promise, on the assumption of office, Soludo commenced cleaning Okpoko, a highly populated and blighted suburb of Onitsha.
While clean-up initiatives are commendable, they fail to address the fundamental issues impeding the city’s economic growth. This piece argues that addressing Onitsha’s traffic woes requires a strategic investment in significant road development rather than mere surface-level clean-up efforts. The limbs of the giant are practically missing, and it is in dire need of prostheses and not bandages.
Clean-up efforts are essential for maintaining a healthy and aesthetically pleasing environment; they are just the tip of the iceberg. Investing in these projects is not just a commitment to infrastructure; it is an investment in the vibrant heartbeat of a thriving city, paving the way for economic growth, enhanced mobility, and a better quality of life for its residents.
Therefore, Governor Charles Soludo, who is nearly halfway into his tenure, must prioritise and invest in critical road infrastructure for Onitsha. A strategic focus on essential infrastructure projects is crucial for unlocking its full potential and ensuring sustained economic growth. Ultimately, Soludo’s legacy will be judged by the lasting impact of his investments in Onitsha. The ability to create a foundation for sustainable development, economic prosperity, and an improved quality of life will determine the enduring legacy of his tenure.
Critical road ideas like bypasses for Onitsha have been introduced previously. Many have been proposed and planned for several years but have not been implemented due to lack of funds, political will, or technical challenges.
For instance, the World Bank designed the Borromeo roundabout through Omagba Layout to 33 Junction in the 1980s. It was not carried out and would be too expensive to construct because most of the area is now built up.
An option to compensate for this lost opportunity would include constructing a super bypass that links Tarzan Junction, Nkpor, on Enugu-Onitsha Express Way to 33 Junction Nkwelle Ezunaka. The importance of this five-kilometre road must be considered. It will decongest the GRA Trans-Nkisi Road, the only outlet from Onitsha to the vast Oyi -Anambra Corridor. This road is imperative, especially now that pressure has been sustained in the National Assembly for the dualisation of the 33-Otuocha-Omasi Adani-Otukpa Highway. This would then mean a seamless connection between the major arterial of Enugu Expressway and the North without passing through the inner city and serve to give the indigenous community of Inland Town some breather.
Other road projects to be considered would be the dualisation of Uga Junction to the Second Niger Bridge Junction of Atani Road, which is about two kilometres. This would greatly ease traffic at Upper Iweka and provide a smooth link from the commercial to Second Niger Bridge on the one hand and access to Nnewi, Ihiala and Imo State on the other.
Improved road infrastructure contributes to a safer and more secure environment by enhancing emergency response capabilities, providing better mobility for law enforcement, and creating urban spaces less susceptible to criminal activities. Strategic planning and investment in road development can be crucial in promoting overall community security and resilience.
As Onitsha, the dynamic commercial centre of Anambra State, grapples with the congestion and traffic gridlock challenges, the need for transformative road infrastructure takes centre stage. Investments in well-designed roads, bypasses, and transportation networks will address traffic congestion, unleash its economic potential, and serve as the foundation for sustainable growth, job creation, security, and enhanced global competitiveness.
The time for excuses is over. The Anambra State Government must act now and prioritise such roads. The government must mobilise the necessary resources, engage the relevant stakeholders, and execute these projects quickly and efficiently. In the face of these challenges, all must rally together to ensure Onitsha’s survival and prevent the looming spectre of failure. Restoration of this hope is possible with the proper political will. Like the gentle dawn after the darkest night, the first rays of sunlight pierce through the obscurity, casting away shadows and painting the sky in hues of possibilities.
Certainly, Onitsha can shine again despite fractures and setbacks. In essence, the symbolic benefits of the provision of prostheses for Onitsha extend far beyond a limb’s physical replacement. They encompass enhanced accessibility, economic resurgence, improved security, better social well-being, and cultural rejuvenation. They equally foster a collective commitment to creating a more inclusive and supportive society for the overall improvement of Onitsha and the welfare of its residents.
Pat Onukwuli, PhD
patonukwuli2003@yahoo.co.uk
Writes from Bolton, UK.
