Warri

The name 'WARRI' was first associated with the Itsekiri ancestral capital town of Ode Itsekiri which the locals also refer to as 'Iwerre'. A mispronunciation of Iwerre by several European explorers probably resulted in various names like AWERRI, OUWERI, WARRE, WARREE, etc. The British eventually anglancised it as WARRI[9]

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[10]

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.[11]

Warri is garrisoned by the Amphibious Infantry battalion (Effurun Army Base) located in Effurun, a twin city to Warri and is administratively under the Brigade HQ[16] in Port Harcourt.

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.

Warri has an international stadium with a capacity of 30,000 which is the home of Warri Wolves football club,[17][18] 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.[19] Their prominent former players include Best Ogedegbe, Wilson Oruma, Efe Ambrose, Victor Ikpeba and Ekigho Ehiosun.

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,[20] which is located in Ovwian–Aladja area of Udu.[21] 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.

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, but the final 27 km Warri section is still incomplete. In 2010, work recommenced to complete that final section to Warri. The rail line was officially inaugurated in September 2020.

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.

There are several helipads in oil company yards, like Shell yard Ogunu and in Escavos and Focados.

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.

Primary schools in Warri are:

• Agbassa Primary School, Warri.
• Alderstown School for the Deaf

• Edjeba Estate School, Edjeba, Warri
• Ogunu Primary School, Ogunu, Warri
• HillTop
• Isibovbe Primary school, Okurode Urhobo
• Ikengbuwa Primary School, Warri
• Omatsola Primary School, Warri
• Elder's Town Primary School, Warri
• International Unity School (IUS)
• Kids Compute Academy
• Lakeland School, Ogunu, Warri
• Mowoe Primary School, Warri
• Nana Primary School, Warri
• NNPC Staff Primary School
• Ogiame Primary School, Warri
• Ojojo Primary School, Warri
• SNAPS
• Twin Fountain Group of Schools

Secondary schools are also in numbers in the city of Warri. These include:

• Dore Numa College, Warri
• Hussey College Warri

• Cambridge International School
• Classical International School, Warri
• College of Commerce, Warri
• College of Education Demonstration Secondary School, Warri
• Delta Secondary School, Warri
• Dom Domingos College, Warri
• Eagles Height School, Ajamimogha, Warri
• Essi College, Warri
• Federal Government College, Ekurede Urhobo, Warri [22]
• Nana College, Warri
• Twin Fountain Group of Schools
• Ubeji Grammar School, Ubeji
• Uwangue College, Warri
• Yonwuren College, Warri

There are various tertiary institutions within and outside the city, the following are the institutions situated in the city of Warri

• College of Education at Edjeba, Warri[23]
• The Delta State Nursing School, Ogunu, Warri[24]
• Eagle Heights University, Omadino, Warri[25]