The port factor in the growth and decline of Warri and Sapele townships in the western Niger Delta region of Nigeria

Abstract

Metropolitanization of either ‘traditional’ or ‘port’ cities have been found in previous studies in Nigeria to be multidimensional in scope. This study examines the impact of socioeconomic attributes of seaports on the growth and decline of Warri and Sapele townships in the western Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Changes in the relative status of Warri and Sapele ports in the maritime trade of the subregion have been found to be the major factor affecting the settlements attracted to these port cities. The relative ascendancy of Warri port in the maritime trade of the subregion has in turn been found in this study to be a direct product of the changing productivity of the metropolitan and primary hinterlands of both Warri and Sapele ports. Using break-point theory (a quantitative technique which utilizes a concept borrowed from the gravity model) the resultant indices show that the socioeconomic effects of the port city of Warri on the four geographically contiguous local government areas—Okpe (Sapele), Ughelli, Ethiope and Warri—are strongest. Consequently, there is a territorial fusion of these four geographically contiguous but administratively independent local government areas. The net result of this territorial fusion is a decline in the status of Sapele township and the emergence of the metropolitan region of Warri. It is suggested that the number of administrative divisions over which the port cty of Warri now sprawls should not be a major problem to policy-makers and should ensure the existence of a single planning authority to oversee the development of the whole metropolitan region.