I must confess to a feeling of impertinence at my suggesting how to take Asaba to new heights under the new Asagba Ahaba, His Royal Majesty, Epiphany Azinge, because Asaba is about the most educated town, per capita, globally, especially as I am not from Asaba, but from Ubulu-Uku, 30 kilometres west of Asaba.

Name any field of study, no matter how stratospheric, obscure and impenetrable, from the study of the Cosmos to the least hydrophilic substance, from Nuclear Physics to the molten magma in the innermost core of the earth, Asaba, may have had full professorships in it even before Nigeria became independent.

While many Nigerian cities are hemorrhaging residents, as people flee because of national insecurity, Asaba is swelling with population growth, near-uncontrolled expansion taxing social services.

These developments offer their own challenges, especially straining the harmony between the natives and non-natives. But if any town has historically been poised to meet the challenges of a capital city in these fast-changing times, Asaba is it! Because it has been learning this lesson for over a hundred years!

Asaba, the choicest city watered by the “Oshimili”, yes that immensity of waters, a very appropriate name, that Asaba has fittingly christened the River that has swallowed Rivers Sankarani, Bagoe, Milo, Kaduna and the Benue, among the multitude of streams and rivers on its over 2, 600 kilometres journey before it reached Asaba – mighty, unhurried in its flow, almost leisurely as befits any queen.

Remarkably, on leaving Asaba, the mighty river slowly began its division into smaller offshoots and tributaries as though having vowed that after its optimal experience of flowing past Asaba, the Jewel on the Niger, it would not bear the insult of “seeing” hamlets and bush camps, for “anya ne Asaba adene offia”, (the eyes that had enjoyed the sight of Asaba should not spoil its vision by looking at the untamed forest).

Asaba has walked through a past that twice punished it unjustifiably. In 1878, a year after the Royal Niger Company pitched its headquarters there, the British bombarded Asaba when she imposed a trade embargo against the colonialists. A nearly obliterated Asaba so rebounded that just 12 years later, 1900 January 1, 1900, Sir Ralph Moorehoisted the Union Jack in Asaba to replace the Royal Niger Company’s flag and make it Southern Nigeria’s capital.

Then on October 7th 1967 Nigerian troops massacred over 1000 Asaba people. Thousands more died in the bushes and or were killed in Asaba or the surrounding towns later.

Like the phoenix, Asaba rose from the ashes of the two fires, flowering spectacularly. Today, Asaba, the most exquisite flower by the Niger, is in full bloom. And she can, and should, only get better. 

Today, Asaba, the capital city of Delta state, has an Airport. The way forward is open; progress beckons. A master plan that will cover the 762 square kilometres (294 sq mi), entire Asaba Capital City territory should be mapped out. To avoid a terrible crush on the developmental space in Asaba town proper, projects should be gradually shifted to the surrounding parts of the Asaba Capital City.

Asaba has for over a hundred years been an urban area, a metropolis, where people from as far afield as United Kingdom and France, Idah, Igala, Abor, Benin-City, Agenebode and Lokoja and as nearby as Onitsha have congregated and pursued their livelihoods. Today, Asaba hosts workers, traders, skilled craftsmen, unskilled pseudo-workers, actors and would-be actors, hustlers and the occasional scammer plus kidnapper. As the city grows, there should be a way to make the distinctive traditional practices relaxed in the outer areas populated mainly by non-indigenes.

Asaba itself remains perhaps the most educated West African town. Asaba indigenes have produced over six University Vice Chancellors, over 300 medical doctors, almost every family hosts a PhD holder, you will find mama Lawyer (lawyer’s mother) in every street and so Asaba could only be described as “ndi malakwukwo” (learned people). And this expertise cuts across all academic disciplines.

So, Asaba should teach Nigeria how to harness BRAIN POWER, become Nigeria’s Silicon Valley and prepare for the future without crude oil by making sheer intelligence and innovation to be productive.

The Asaba Capital City Authority should start by carving out a MAGIC SQUARE MILE on any of the roads leading into Asaba as the initial technological hub. Then it could be extended by another mile or two, and then another could be carved out on another road and so on as the need arises.

Already, Nollywood has chosen Asaba as its first city of choice in which to shoot movies.  Unfortunately, it is only when we see the blue painted keke-napeps that we know the location. That is not only rudimentary but counter-productive. Widely recognizable Asaba landmarks should be erected to tell viewers that Asaba is on display.

The Statue of Liberty represent New York City, Eiffel Tower, Paris and Sydney Opera House is recognized world-wide.

Lastly, Asaba should do what no other Nigerian town has been able to do. Asaba authorities should link up fast with the state government to develop the River Niger Waterfront, especially near the Bridge Head. I wonder if it is too late to even channel part of the Niger into special areas, near its banks, to form special effects, (as the City of Boston, Massachusetts, USA, rechanneled the Charles River).

Boat rides could take place in such shallow channels, near hotel hubs, conference and relaxation sports areas. Beauty should be domiciled there to comfort the mind and uplift the soul.  A well-developed water front gives Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast’s political capital, a special effect, especially at night when electric light plays on the man-made shallow water ways the town’s most illustrious son, the late President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, put in place.

Yes, it is time to turn Asaba, the Jewel of the Niger into the Paradise on the Niger; Nigeria’s most beautiful state capital.