Warri, city in southwestern Nigeria, located in Delta State. Warri is a major port city in the Niger Delta and serves as the cargo transfer point between the Niger River and the Atlantic Ocean. The major items shipped from the Warri port include rubber, palm products, cocoa, groundnuts, hides, and skins. Industries include bicycle assembly, rubber processing, and ship repair. Canoes, rope, and mats are among the traditional handicrafts produced in the city. In 1987 a major petrochemical complex was established at Warri; it produces plastics, pharmaceuticals, and paints.
Warri is situated in the Yoruba cultural region and dates back to the 15th century, when it was visited by Portuguese missionaries. Subsequently it served as the base for Portuguese and Dutch slave traders. Warri developed as a port during the late 1800s, when it became a center for the palm oil trade. The population of Warri has grown drastically since the 1960s because of the worldwide oil boom. This growth, however, has exceeded the development of transportation, housing, and urban services. Warri is connected to Benin City by a major highway and has its own airport. Population (1995) 122,900.
