Warri

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Warri is a city in Nigeria. It is located in the present day Delta State, and has a population of 507,255. Warri people are of the Itsekiri, Urhobo, Ijaw and other ethnic groups.

[edit] History

Warri was established by the British in the 1900s to serve as a provincial headquarters.

The city has a traditional ruler, the Olu of Warri, formerly known as the Olu of Itsekiri. When the title was changed in 1952, non-Itsekiris saw this as a false claim to sovereignty over all ethnic groups in the city.

In 1997, under the government of military dictator Sani Abacha, the headquarters of a Local Government Area was moved from an Ijaw town, Ogbe-Ijaw, to the Itsekiri Ogidigben. Riots ensued, hundreds died, and six Shell Nigeria (SPDC) installations were taken over by youths, leading to a drop in oil production. The crisis is known as the "Warri Crisis."

[edit] Economy and business

Warri has a local television and radio station, Delta Rainbow Television Warri, and Delta state television, Radio Warri. The economic base of the city lies in the presence of oil and gas companies and a refinery. There is also the Delta Steel Company. Warri has a seaport and airport located at Osubi. Warri has a stadium with a capacity of 15,000 and a second division professional league football team.

[edit] Transport

In 1991, construction started on a standard gauge railway from the steel mills at Ajaokuta to the port of Warri, about 275km away. In 2006, the standard gauge lines had reached 329km in length, but the final 19km Warri section is still incomplete.

Transportation within the city is mainly by bus and motorcycle.