Warri

The city of Warri is an oil hub within South-South Nigeria and houses an annex of the Delta State Government House. Warri is one of the major hubs of the petroleum industry in Nigeria. Warri, Udu, Okpe and Uvwie are the commercial capital of Delta State with a population of over 311,970 people¹ in 2006. The city is the indigenous territory of Itsekiri, Urhobo and Ijaw people. Warri shares boundaries with Uvwie to the east, Udu to the south east, Ogbe-ijoh to the south, and other communities in Warri South LGA to the west. Warri sits on the bank of Warri River which joins Forcados River and Escravos River through Jones Creek in the lower Niger Delta Region. The city has a modern seaport, which serves as the cargo transit point between the Niger River and the Atlantic Ocean for import and export. Warri served as the capital of the colonial Warri Province during the early 1900s when this part of Delta State was under the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria.

The city of Warri is an oil hub within South-South Nigeria and houses an annex of the Delta State Government House. Warri is one of the major hubs of the petroleum industry in Nigeria. Warri, Udu, Okpe and Uvwie are the commercial capital of Delta State with a population of over 311,970 people in 2006. The city is the indigenous territory of Itsekiri, Urhobo and Ijaw people. Warri shares boundaries with Uvwie to the east, Udu to the south east, Ogbe-ijoh to the south, and other communities in Warri South LGA to the west. Warri sits on the bank of Warri River which joins Forcados River and Escravos River through Jones Creek in the lower Niger Delta Region. The city has a modern seaport, which serves as the cargo transit point between the Niger River and the Atlantic Ocean for import and export. Warri served as the capital of the colonial Warri Province during the early 1900s when this part of Delta State was under the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria. ==History== ===Etymology=== The name 'WARRI' was first associated with the Itsekiri ancestral capital town of Ode Itsekiri which the locals also refer to as 'Iwere'. A mispronunciation of Iwere by several European explorers probably resulted in various names like HUELA, AWERRI, OWHERE, OERE, OUWERE, WARRE, WARREE, etc. The British eventually anglancised it as WARRI. The area encompassing present-day Warri South, Warri South West, and Warri North, which constitutes the independent territory of the historic Kingdom of Warri, derives its name from the kingdom's capital, Ode-Itsekiri. This is corroborated by French navigator and trader Jean Barbot, who visited Warri in the late 17th century. In his account, Barbot described the capital as follows: ===British Advent pre-Warri=== British colonialism effectively took off in the Western Niger Delta with the proclamation of the Oil Coast Protectorate by Great Britain in June 1885. British colonial administration was carried out through local chiefs like Nana Olomu of Ebrohimi in Benin River. This administration was effectively restricted to Benin River and its environs as the British were content with conducting trade with the people of the hinterlands through the Itsekiri as middlemen. ===Creation of Warri=== The British decided to move the seat of the administration of the Niger Coast Protectorate from the capital Ode-Itsekiri (Warri or Iwerre) to the uplands to have effective control of the hinterlands. In order to achieve this, the British in 1906 took a lease of a new trading station opened in 1898 on virgin lands for Alexander Miller Brothers Limited of Liverpool at the mouth of the Okere Creeks. This new trading station was also named WARRI after the capital Ode-Itsekiri so the Itsekiris dubbed Ode-Itsekiri BIG WARRI in order to differentiate Ode-Itsekiri from the new trading station. All the Warri City leases granted to the British crown and government, which are the lease of 360 acres under B2 lease of 1906, approximately under B5 lease of 1908, and under lease B7 of 1911, were all granted and signed by the representatives of the Olu of Warri, Chiefs Dore (Dogho) and Ogbe Yonwuren. ==Demographics== Its inhabitants are predominantly Christians of different denominations, and some practice a mixture of African traditional religions like most of Southern Nigeria. The city is known nationwide for its unique Pidgin, mostly among the less educated or uneducated. ==Climate== The area is characterised by a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen Am) with a mean annual temperature of and an annual rainfall amount of . High temperatures are typically between . The climate is monsoonal and marked by two distinct seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. The dry season lasts from about November to April and is significantly marked by the cool "harmattan" dusty haze from the north-east trade winds. The rainy season spans May to October with a brief drier spell in August, but it frequently rains even in the dry season. The surrounding region is predominantly rainforest, tending to swamplands in some areas. The vegetation is rich in timber trees, palm trees, as well as fruit trees. ===Manufacturing and raw materials=== The economic base of the city lies in the presence of a refinery and other oil and gas companies. Also, there is the steel company, Delta Steel Company, which is located in Ovwian–Aladja area of Udu. The Beta Glass Plant is located nearby, outside the town of Ughelli, where the land is rich in silica and silicates, raw materials required for the manufacture of glass, ceramics and cement. The Transcorp Power Distribution, one of Nigeria's power generating stations, is also located at Ughelli, which is just 15 minutes away by car. ==Transport== ===Rail=== In 1991, construction started on a standard gauge railway from the steel mills at Ajaokuta to the port of Warri, about 275 km away. By 2006, the standard gauge lines had reached 329 km in length, the final 27 km Warri section has been completed. In 2010, work recommenced to complete the final section to Warri. The rail line was officially inaugurated in September 2020 with the terminal at Udu. ===Road=== Major road networks within Warri Metropolis has been improved upon by the state government to improve the image of the city. Transportation within the city is mainly by bus and tricycle. The federal government has completed the Warri-Benin Road road expansion project and major parts of the East-West Road Project which will connect Warri-Uyo. ===Air=== There are several helipads in oil company yards, like Shell yard Ogunu and in Escavos and Focados. There is a general passenger airport at the Osubi area. ===Sea=== Movement of goods by sea is through the Nigerian Ports Authority (Delta Ports) at which is mainly for export and import of goods by major companies. Also located on the main Warri riverside are markets and jetties used by local traders, which act as a transit point for local transport and trade. There are local boats that are used for moving from one location to another. ==Educational institutions== ===Secondary schools=== Secondary schools include: Dore Numa College, Warri Hussey College Warri ==Religion== Warri is also known for its proliferation of churches, and has several religious figures such as Ayo Oritsejafor of the Word of Life Bible Church, and Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin. ==Tourism== There are various tourist sites to visit while in Warri: Red Mangrove swamp Falcorp Mangrove Park / Mini Zoo, Ijala, Behind Warri Refinery. Warri Township Stadium Shell club, Ogunu Warri Port, Ugbuwangue, Warri ==Notable people== Charity Adule, footballer Demas Akpore, academic and politician Nneka Egbuna, a singer based in Germany Erigga, musician Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin - minister and prophet Emomotimi Guwor Speaker Delta State House Of Assembly Emmanuel Olisadebe, footballer Nedum Onuoha, footballer Ayo Oritsejafor, former CAN President Kingsley Otuaro former deputy governor of Delta State Ozoz Sokoh, food writer ==See also== Abraka Asaba, Delta Agbassa Delta State Effurun Eku, Delta Ughelli Railway stations in Nigeria ==References==

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