The canoe business is thriving at the Ose-Ekwodu market waterfront in Onitsha, Anambra State, as young men turn the traditional means of water transportation into a source of livelihood.
At the busy waterfront, canoes move continuously across the River Niger, transporting traders, goods and passengers between different points along the river.
For many of the operators, canoeing is more than a means of transportation. It is a daily business that provides income for their families and supports other economic activities around the waterfront.
The trade has remained an important part of commercial life around Ose-Ekwodu, one of the notable markets in Onitsha, where movement of goods and people generates significant economic activity.
Operators navigate the river from morning, ferrying passengers and transporting commodities while traders and customers make use of the waterways to move between communities and markets.
The growing activity has also created opportunities for people involved in related businesses, including canoe maintenance, repairs, loading and unloading of goods, as well as the sale of items needed by boat operators.
For young men involved in the trade, the business provides an alternative source of employment in an environment where formal job opportunities remain limited.
The waterfront, however, presents its own challenges. Operators have to contend with changing water levels, weather conditions and the risks associated with transporting people and goods on the river.
Despite these difficulties, the canoe operators continue to ply the waterways because of the steady demand for their services.
The business also reflects the long-standing relationship between Onitsha’s commercial activities and the River Niger.
For generations, the river has played an important role in the movement of people and goods in the area, linking Onitsha with communities and trading centres along the waterways.
The continued popularity of canoe transportation shows that, despite the expansion of road networks and other forms of transportation, water transport remains relevant to communities around the Niger.
Beyond transportation, the waterfront has developed into an economic ecosystem where traders, boat operators and other workers depend on one another for their daily livelihoods.
The canoe trade therefore represents more than a traditional occupation. It is part of the informal economy supporting thousands of people who depend on small-scale businesses and services around Onitsha’s markets.
As commercial activities continue to expand in Onitsha, improved infrastructure, safety measures and support for water transportation could further strengthen the contribution of the waterfront to the local economy.
For the young canoe operators at Ose-Ekwodu, however, the priority remains straightforward: keeping their boats moving and earning enough to support themselves and their families.
