Port Harcourt

Federal State

Port Harcourt is a city in Nigeria. It is the capital of Rivers State and has 1,148,753 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2005). Port Harcourt is one of 23 Local Government Areas in Rivers.

Geography

Port Harcourt is located in the south of the country in the Niger Delta. Rainfall is quite high during the rainy season.

History

The city was founded in 1912 by the British, was built on the tribal territory of the Ikwerre (Igbo ) and the Ijaw. It is named after Lewis Vernon Harcourt, 1st Viscount Harcourt, the British Secretary of State for Colonial beings from 1910 until 1915.

In 1995 the writer and civil rights activist Ken Saro- Wiwa and eight other defendants were executed in Port Harcourt, which triggered violent protests internationally. Nigeria was immediately expelled from the Commonwealth of Nations.

The recent history of the city is marked by violence. So there was fierce exchange of fire between different groups and with the police. Dozens lives were lost. Likewise, a number of foreigners have been kidnapped in Port Harcourt. Among other things, German, employee of Julius Berger Nigeria, a minority stake of the German construction company Bilfinger Berger.

Economy

The city has an important sea port for the region and is regarded as an oil town.

Traffic

The international airport was closed after a fire since August 2007 and is open limited since the beginning of 2008, full time since May 2008. From Frankfurt (Main), there are daily Lufthansa flights to Port Harcourt (both via Lagos).

Sons and daughters

• Echendu Adiele (1978-2011), Nigerian- German football player
• George Datoru ( b. 1977 ), Nigerian footballer
• Finidi George (born 1971 ), Nigerian footballer
• Manasseh Ishiaku ( b. 1983 ), Nigerian footballer
• Chidi Odiah ( b. 1983 ), Nigerian footballer

Air table

• Location in Nigeria
• Location seaport
• Million city
• Rivers
• Place in Africa