ABSTRACT
This study has examined the historical development of the Warri Seaport from 1860-2019. It looked at the developmentof the port from the pre-colonial times and shown how it aid trade in slaves and goods between the British and the ethnic groups such as Urhobo, Itsekiri and Ijaw in Warri. In the colonial era, the port was managed by the Nigerian Marine and used for the exportation of cash crops such as rubber, timber, and palm oil. It was also used for the importation of finished goods such as clothes, pharmaceuticals, drinks, beverages, soaps and others to Warri. The Warri port was later managed privately by the John Holt Company until after Nigeria’s independence in 1969 when it was nationalized by Nigeria’s military regime of General Yakubu Gowon. Duringthe period, Warri port was optimally utilized during the oil boom of the 1970’s, as there were a lot of ships with cargoes berthing at the port. This development led to the increase in employment of both skilled and unskilled people at the port, who worked as laborers, maritime staff, ship crew, fishermen, shipping/forwarding agents and boat builders. The influx of people led to increase in the population of Warri, as many people all over Nigeria migrated to the Warri in search of job and business opportunities. Although the fortune was short lived, due to the government's policies such as the Structural Adjustment Programme of 1980s. The ethnic crisis between itsekiri and Ijaw, and the youth reactiveness leading to the Niger Delta militancy affected the activities at the port. Between 1999 and 2019, the operations at the port increased due to the patronage by oil firms and the Federal and Delta State government’s efforts in the revitalization of the port to boost economic development of the country.The Warri Port has impacted the area by creation of employment opportunities to the people of the host communities, who worked as maritime staff, captains, seamen, marine engineers and security personnel, while others are employed directly and indirectly in providing both skilled and unskilled labour. The port attracted both local and foreign investments and contributes immensely to the internal generated revenue of both the State and Federal government. The challenges faced by the port include bad road, lack of maintenance, poor power generation and inadequate modern equipment.
