Onitsha Generates N3.6 Billion Daily , Says Former Aviation Minister , Princess Odua , Presses For Upgrade Of Onitsha Market

 Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state is now in tight corner following the revelation by Former Nigerian Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah that the popular Onitsha Main Market generates economic trade value of N3.6bn daily and calls for its upgrade to International market.


Oduah who stated this during the Anambra North Development Forum held at Sharon Hall Onitsha  said the market which is 12th largest market in the world needs to be improved and upgraded to an international market to serve the entire West African sub region.

Presenting a paper titled “Anambra North: Perishable Agriculture Produce- the way to go for rapid rural development”, Princess Oduah said that she is currently working on a model blueprint not only for the Onitsha market but for the revamping of the various potentials of Anambra North zone that will be unveiled soon.

She added that with the gracious approval of cargo terminals in various airports across the country including Asaba and Owerri by the Federal Government, people in the 7 local governments in Anambra North zone known as the food basket of the state will begin the export of perishable agricultural products to different parts of the world.

Taking a holistic view of the natural endowments of the people of Anambra North, Oduah said their people have innate skills in agriculture through crop farming, fishery, business and education but regretted that those skills and potentials remain largely untapped.

In the rural transformation programme, she identified entrepreneurship and agro allied enterprise development as surest ways to get communities in Anambra North out of the cycle of poverty, insisting that the entire Anambra North Senatorial District should be carved into Agricultural grids comprising farm settlements , storage /collection centers with off grid independent plants to provide energy to the storage centers.

The Federal Legislator also disclosed that the Nigerian Shippers Council and the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) have approved the establishment of Anambra North Dry Port which will complement its Chamber of Commerce for a new economic initiative.

Earlier in a keynote speech, the Managing Director, Asset Management Company of Nigeria, Mustapha Chike Obi said that the pathway towards creating sustainable growth in Anambra North lies on the people to imbibe think-home philosophy where issues affecting the people will be given priority above personal interests.