Port Harcourt (Pidgin: Po-ta-kot or Pi-ta-kwa) is the capital and largest city of Rivers State in Nigeria.

[2][21][22] Port Harcourt's economy turned to petroleum[23] when the first shipment of Nigerian crude oil was exported through the city in 1958.

[24] Through the benefits of the Nigerian petroleum industry, Port Harcourt was further developed, with aspects of modernization such as overpasses, city blocks, and taller and more substantial buildings.

[33] Other villages that were later absorbed into the city included Oroworukwo, Oromeruezimgbu, Nkpogu, and Rumuomasi;[34][35][36] In the creeks to the south of the original port were the fishing camps and grounds of the Wakirike-Ijaw group.

[29] During the First World War, Port Harcourt was used as a point for military operations against the Central Powers in German Kamerun.

Port Harcourt became the center of the Nigerian oil economy[38] and it subsequently reaped benefits of its associations with the petroleum industry by undergoing modernization and urbanization.

In 2009, a law was passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly and Governor Amaechi's administration to spread development to the surrounding communities as part of the effort to decongest the Port Harcourt metropolis.

[46] According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) index air quality index (AQI), a reading of 0 – 50 is good, readings between 200 – 300 which Port Harcourt falls under is considered unhealthy for everyone and E.P.A advises residents of such areas to avoid heavy and prolonged exertion, and move activities indoors.

Abuloma, Iwofe, Rupokwu, Okrika, and Woji were mostly affected with other areas such as Rumuigbo, Eleme, and Oyigbo Local Government Councils, as well as Ogoni.

[44][48] The covering of the haze of soot in most parts of the city has resulted in visibility impairment by PM2.5, soil, and water deposition, and disruption in ecosystem diversity.

[44][49] The Ministry of Environment took action by analysing air samples from various sites in the city and found out to be 11 times higher than WHO specifications for PM2.5 and PM10.

[44][48] Some of Port Harcourt's more popular and well-known residential areas are known as Port Harcourt Township (or just "Town"), GRA (Government Reserved Area) phases 1–5, Elekahia, Rumuomasi, D-line, Elelenwo, Eliozu, Iboloji, Ogbunabali, Rumuola, Rumuigbo, Mgbuoba, Diobu, Woji, Amadi Flats, Umuchitta, Rumuokoro and Borikiri.

Both refineries process around 210,000 barrels of crude oil a day, both operated by the Port Harcourt Refining Company.

Port Harcourt is primarily composed of coastal Ikwerre, Ijaw, Obulom, and Ogoni peoples.

[54] The city is also home to other Christian denominations such as Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Jehovah's Witnesses and members of Evangelical and Pentecostal groups.

Established by the government of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the yearly gathering improves local literacy levels, promotes reading habits among denizens, and benefits exhibitors seeking a wider audience.

The festival currently continues to draw writers, literary connoisseurs, booksellers and publishers from every walk of life to the city.

Partyers and revellers tend to spend a chunk of their night time at New GRA, where most of the bars and high-end nightclubs are located.

Port Harcourt city has produced great musicians in the likes of Rex Lawson during jazz, highlife and old skool days.

Several institutions of tertiary education in Port Harcourt offer a wide range of professionally accredited programmes and qualifications.

As a regulatory authority, the Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications is responsible for overseeing the entire broadcasting system, as well as promoting competition and ensuring the provision of qualitative services throughout the city.

Another popular newspaper is the weekly tabloid National Network which is owned by local politician Jerry Needam.

Port Harcourt is home to one of the most popular soccer clubs in Nigeria and Africa, the Rivers United F.C.

[81] The city has a prominent tertiary health institution University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) is situated on East West Road.

The project is the first phase of the rehabilitation of the old Port Harcourt water supply system and its extension to new areas of the city.

It involves the rehabilitation and upgrade of the stations in Rumuola, increasing its current capacity to 187,000 m3 (6,603,843 cu ft) per day.

[89] The total coverage area for the Greater Port Harcourt city development is about 1,900 km2 (730 sq mi) spanning eight local governments in Rivers State, including Ogu Bolo, Eleme,Ikwerre, Etche, Obio Akpor, Okrika.

The Authority (GPHCDA) was established by law in April 2009 with a mandate to facilitate the implementation of the Greater Port Harcourt master plan and build the new city.