Sapele

Sapele, town and port, Delta state, southern Nigeria. It lies along the Benin River just below the confluence of the Ethiope and Jamieson rivers, 98 miles (158 km) from the Escravos Bar and entrance to the Bight of Benin. The town also lies on the road that branches to Warri, Ughelli, and Asaba and is connected by ferry to the road to Benin City.

Founded in the colonial period on land traditionally inhabited by the Urhobo (Isoko) people, Sapele has been a centre for sawmilling (obeche, abura, sapele, and mahogany) since 1925. Its plywood- and veneer-manufacturing plant is one of the largest in western Africa. Sapele is also known for the rubber plantations in the vicinity. Its industry became more diversified in the 1960s with factories for making shoes, tiles, plastics, and chemicals. Sapele is a local market centre in cassava (manioc), fish, palm oil and kernels, yams, and plantains, and it has a flour-milling plant. Pop. (2006) local government area, 171,888.