Port Harcourt
Major Nigerian port city and oil industry hub.
via Wikipedia: Port Harcourt · see source
Port Harcourt (Nigerian Pidgin: Po-ta-kot or Pi-ta-kwa, formerly Rebisi) is a port city, capital and largest city of Rivers State in Nigeria. It is the fourth most populous city in Nigeria after Lagos, Kano and Ibadan. It lies along the Bonny River and is located in the oil rich Niger Delta region. As of 2025, Port Harcourt's urban population is approximately 3,800,000. The colonial administration of Nigeria created the port to export coal from the collieries of Enugu located 243 kilometres (151 mi) north of Port Harcourt, to which it was linked by a railway called the Eastern Line, also built by the British. Port Harcourt's economy turned to petroleum when the first shipment of Nigerian crude oil was exported through the city in 1958.
- country
- Nigeria
- state
- Rivers State
- population_urban_2025
- approximately 3,800,000
- population_1950
- 59,752
- founded
- 1912
- named
- August 1913
- current_mayor
- Ezebunwo Ichemati
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Port Harcourt was founded in 1912 by Frederick Lugard, governor of both the Northern Nigeria Protectorate and the Southern Nigeria Protectorate. Its purpose was to export the coal that geologist Albert Ernest Kitson had discovered in Enugu in 1909. The colonial government caused the people of Diobu to cede their land, and in 1912 the building of a port-town was started. The port was not given a name until August 1913, when the then Governor of Nigeria, Sir Frederick Lugard named it 'Port Harcourt' in honor of Lewis Harcourt, 1st Viscount Harcourt, then the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The native Ikwerre name for the area is Rebisi (the traditional kingdom). During the First World War, Port Harcourt was used as a point for military operations against the Central Powers in German Kamerun. After the discovery of crude oil in Oloibiri in 1956, Port Harcourt exported the first shipload from Nigeria in 1958. Port Harcourt became the centre of the Nigerian oil economy and it subsequently reaped benefits of its associations with the petroleum industry by undergoing modernization and urbanization. After the Republic of Biafra seceded from Nigeria in 1967 Port Harcourt fell to Nigerian forces on 19 May 1968.
Reader's Guide
Port Harcourt is a major industrial centre with a large number of multinational firms, particularly related to the petroleum industry. Oil firms that currently have offices in the city include Shell and Chevron with Agip Company. It is the chief oil-refining city in Nigeria and has two main oil refineries located at Eleme, both operated by the Port Harcourt Refining Company, processing around 210,000 barrels of crude oil a day. The 18-story Point Block of Rivers State Secretariat building is the tallest building in the Southeast and South-South geopolitical zones combined. The city features a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen: Am) with lengthy and heavy rainy seasons and very short dry seasons. Port Harcourt's heaviest precipitation occurs during September with an average of 367 millimetres of rain; December is the driest month with an average of 20 millimetres. Since the last quarter of 2016, residents have experienced severe particle (soot) pollution, with official PM2.5 readings of 270 micrograms per cubic meter in a 2016 sampling. The Ministry of Environment found air samples to be 11 times higher than WHO specifications for PM2.5 and PM10, leading to the shutdown of companies including the Chinese Government Company (CGC), H&H Engineering Company, and AUC Asphalt Company. The current mayor is Ezebunwo Ichemati. Port Harcourt's primary airport is Port Harcourt International Airport (Omagwa) located on the outskirts of the city.
Did You Know?
- Port Harcourt was named in August 1913 after Lewis Harcourt, 1st Viscount Harcourt, then the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
- The native Ikwerre name for the area is Rebisi, which is also the name of the traditional kingdom.
- Port Harcourt exported the first shipload of Nigerian crude oil in 1958, after oil was discovered in Oloibiri in 1956.
- The city's population was only 59,752 in 1950, but grew to approximately 3,800,000 by 2025.
- In 2016, air pollution in Port Harcourt reached PM2.5 levels of 270 micrograms per cubic meter, 11 times higher than WHO specifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Port Harcourt?
Port Harcourt is a major port city in southeastern Nigeria that serves as the capital and largest city of Rivers State. It ranks as the fourth most populous city in the country, with an urban population of roughly 3.8 million as of 2025.
How was Port Harcourt founded?
The city was established in 1912 under the direction of colonial governor Frederick Lugard, originally designed as a coal-export port for Enugu. It received its official name in August 1913, though it had previously been known by the local name Rebisi.
What role does Port Harcourt play in Nigeria's oil industry?
After the first crude oil shipment departed from the city in 1958, Port Harcourt transformed into a central hub for Nigeria's petroleum sector. Today it remains a critical gateway for exporting the nation's oil and gas resources.
Why is Port Harcourt considered important to Nigeria?
As one of the country's primary seaports, it handles a significant share of Nigeria's international trade and energy exports. Its strategic coastal position in Rivers State makes it indispensable to the national economy.
How has Port Harcourt grown since its founding?
What began as a small colonial port with a population of about 59,752 in 1950 has expanded into a metropolitan area of nearly 3.8 million residents. This dramatic growth reflects its evolution from a coal-shipping outpost to a major industrial and commercial center.
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