Port Harcourt

Port Harcourt, city in south-east Nigeria, capital of Rivers State, on the Bonny River in the Niger River delta. The city is a leading port of the country, and a road and rail junction. It is also a major industrial centre: its exports include palm oil, petroleum, coal, tin, columbite, palm products, cocoa, and peanuts. Among the industries of the area are timber processing, car manufacturing, food and tobacco processing, and the manufacture of rubber, glass, metal and paper products, cement, petroleum products, paint, enamelware, bicycles, furniture, and soap. Located in the city are the University of Port Harcourt (1975) and Rivers State University of Science and Technology (1971). Port Harcourt was established by the British in 1915 and serves eastern Nigeria and parts of northern Nigeria. It was named after Viscount Lewis Harcourt, who was secretary of state for the colonies from 1910 to 1915. Population 399,700 (1995).