The city of Warri is an oil hub within South-South Nigeria and houses an annex of the Delta State Government House. Warri City 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. Due to its rapid population growth and linked roads, the city and its border towns, e.g. Uvwie, Udu merged into a conurbation collectively referred as "Warri". Warri sits on the bank of Warri River which joined 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 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:
The capital town Ouwere, which gives its name to the whole country, lies on the river Forcado, about thirty six or seven leagues up from its mouth, and is near two miles about, being encompass'd on the land-side with groves and thickets, the ordinary residence of the king of Ouwere.
British Advent pre Warri City 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 City 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.
Warri Land Ownership Disputes Warri (Warri South, Warri Southwest, and Warri North) has a history of land ownership disputes involving the itsekiri, Urhobo, and Ijaw communities. Over 25 court cases have addressed land matters in Warri, with six specifically concerning the city's overall ownership.
Urhobo Claims The Agbassa Urhobo community has pursued several legal claims to assert ownership over the entire Warri, primarily against the Itsekiri, represented by the Olu of Warri or Itsekiri Communal Land Trustees. Key cases include:
Ogegede v. Dore Numa (1925): The Agbassa Urhobo claimed rents for portions of land leased to the government by itsekiri's. The Supreme Court of Nigeria dismissed the claim, finding no evidence to support Urhobo ownership. Ometan v. Chief Dore Numa (1926): The Agbassa Urhobo sought a declaration of title over Warri lands. The court ruled that the Itsekiri, under the Olu, held overlordship, with Agbassa recognized as customary tenants. Agbassa Appeals (1931, 1933): Appeals to the Full Court (1931) and Privy Council (1933) upheld the 1926 ruling, affirming Itsekiri overlordship over Agbassa lands. Other Agbassa Cases (1941–1973): Cases including W/44/1941, W/3/1949, W/121/57, W/41/57, SC.67/1971, and SC.327/1972 consistently recognized the Itsekiri’s radical title and possessory rights over Agbassa lands, with Agbassa people as customary tenants. Idudun v. Okumagba (SC/309/74): The Okumagba family (Urhobo) secured possessory rights to 281.1 acres along Okumagba Avenue based on traditional evidence and acts of ownership. As the defendants did not counterclaim for title, the radical title remained with the Olu of Warri.
Ijaw Claims The Ijaw communities, particularly in Ogbe-Ijoh and Gbaramatu, have contested land ownership in Warri, often against the Itsekiri:
Chief Apoh v. Perememighan (1928) & Chief Apoh and Chief Okotie v. Pere (1938): The court affirmed Itsekiri occupancy rights over disputed lands and rivers, allowing Ijaws to use them with permission from the Itsekiri, recognizing the Olu of Warri’s overlordship. Suit W/116/56 (1956): Justice Obaseki granted the Itsekiri possessory title to Aruteghan Creek and surrounding lands, with the Olu of Warri holding radical title, affirming Ijaws as customary tenants. Suit W/148/56 (1956): Chief Isuokumo Oloiki and others, representing Ijaw settlers in Ogbe-Ijoh, claimed ownership of large portions of Warri Division. After prolonged litigation, the Ijaws withdrew their claim, and Justice Rhodes Vivour barred them from future claims against the Itsekiri Communal Land Trustees. Appeal of Chief Isuokumo Oloiki (1967): The Ijaws appealed the 1956 ruling (Suit W/148/56) to the Supreme Court (SC/450/65). Acting Chief Justice Sir Lionel Brett dismissed the appeal on April 24, 1967, permanently barring Ijaws of Ogbe-Ijoh from claiming ownership of Ogbe-Ijoh or other Warri Division lands. Gbaramatu Cases (1946, 1962, 1973): In cases like W/20/46 and SC.37/1973, courts ruled that Ijaws in Gbaramatu were customary tenants under the Itsekiri, with the Olu of Warri holding radical title. Supreme Court rulings have consistently affirmed the Itsekiri’s radical and possessory titles over most Warri lands, with the Olu of Warri or Itsekiri Communal Land Trustees recognized as overlords. The Okumagba (urhobo) family holds possessory rights over 281.1 acres along Okumagba Avenue, while the Agbassa Urhobo, Gbaramatu Ijaw, and Ogbe-Ijoh Ijaw communities are customary tenants under the Itsekiri, with the Olu of Warri retaining radical title. Despite these rulings on the ownership of Warri lands, some Urhobo and Ijaw groups continued to assert ownership claims over Warri.
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 26.7 °C (80.1 °F) and an annual rainfall amount of 2,770 mm (109 in). High temperatures are typically between 28 and 32 °C (82.4 and 89.6 °F). 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.
Economy and infrastructure There is the Warri Refinery and Petrochemicals located at Ekpan and Ubeji, Warri proportionately with the majority of international and local oil companies operating in Nigeria having their operational offices close by. One of the nation's major seaports is sited within Ugbuwangue, Warri. Due to conflict in the late 90s, especially in 1999, most oil companies fled the town and nearby regions.
Security Warri is garrisoned by the Amphibious Infantry battalion (Effurun Army Base) located in the Effurun area. The Nigerian Navy operates from its facilities in Warri. The 61 Nigerian Air force Detachment also operates from its facilities in Jeddo, close to Warri.
Sports Warri has an international stadium with a capacity of 30,000 which is the home of Warri Wolves football club, which has hosted two editions of the African Women Football Championship in 2002 and 2006 respectively and was in contention as one of the venues to be used for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria in 2009. The stadium was used to host the African Youth Athletics Championship (AYAC) in 2013. Warri Wolves, a professional football team based in Warri plays in the Nigeria National League. Their prominent former players include Best Ogedegbe, Wilson Oruma, Efe Ambrose, Victor Ikpeba and Ekigho Ehiosun.
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 Primary schools Primary schools in Warri include:
Alderstown School for the Deaf
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 Erigga, musician Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin - Head prophet Emomotimi Guwor Speaker Delta State House Of Assembly 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 ==