Bayelsa is a state in southern Nigeria in the core Niger Delta region, between Delta State and Rivers State. Its capital is Yenagoa. The main language spoken is Ijaw with dialects such as Kolukuma, Mein, Bomu, Nembe, Epie-Atisa, and Ogbia. Like the rest of Nigeria, English is the official language. The state was formed in 1996 from part of Rivers State and is thus one of the newest states of the Nigerian federation, Bayelsa State which was carved out of Rivers State, was one of the states created by the military regime of late Gen. Sani Abacha on 1st October, 1996. The state has one of the largest crude oil and natural gas deposits in Nigeria. As a result, petroleum production is extensive in the state. However, the majority of Bayelsans are mainly rural dwellers and the local populations engage in fishing on a subsistence and commercial level.
They are mainly rural dwellers due to the terrain and lack of adequate transportation, health, education or other infrastructure as a result of decades of neglect by the central governments, state governments, and petroleum prospecting companies. This has been a large problem in the state since its creation; successive state governments have not been able to address and repair the issue. The state, as a result, has an almost non-existent commerce. Successive state governments have embarked on industrial projects (even venturing into the oil and gas sector) and poverty-alleviation programs to reverse this situation. Some argue that there is nothing on ground to show for huge sums of money spent for development by successive and present state governments, the local population engages in fishing on a subsistence and commercial level.
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Bayelsa has a revering and estuarine setting. Many communities are almost completely surrounded by water, making them inaccessible by road. The state is home to the Edumanom Forest Reserve, in June 2008 the last known site for chimpanzees in the Niger Delta.
Other important cities besides Yenagoa include Akassa, Lobia, Amassoma (the home of the Niger Delta University), Eniwari, Ekeremor, Aliebiri, Peretoru, Twon-Brass, Egwema-Brass Kaiama, Nembe, Odi, Ogbia, Okpoama Brass, Oporoma, Otuan, Sagbama, Olugbobiri, Peremabiri, and Swali.
Due to massive overseas scholarship programs implemented by the old Rivers State in the 1970s and recent Bayelsa State governments, large numbers of Bayelsan professionals reside in Europe and North America. This is part of the general brain-drain trend affecting many African communities.
Bayelsa is a multi-ethnic state comprised of many other ethnic groups such as Kolokunu, Ekpetiama, Igbriran, Atissa and Biseni, the state is predominantly occupied by the Ijaws. Other tribes found in the state are Nembe, Ogbia and Ogbein, each having its own dialect. There are four main languages in Bayelsa State, which are Izon, Nembe, Ogbia and Epie-Atissa. The predominant religions in the State are Christianity and Traditional worship.
The major occupations in the State are fishing, farming, palm oil milling, lumbering, palm wine tapping, local gin making, trading, carving and weaving.
Bayelsa State is geographically located within Latitude 4°15′ North and latitude 5°23′ south and longitude 05°22′ West and 06°45′ East. It shares boundaries with Delta State on the North, Rivers State on the East and the Atlantic Ocean on the West and South. The state has a land area 21,110sqkm/10,773km square.
The state has a vegetation characterized by mangrove forest and in the north it has a thick forest with arable lands for cultivation. Bayelsa State is a picturesque tropical rain forest, with an area of about 21,110 square kilometres. More than three quarters of this area is covered by water, with a moderately low land stretching from Ekeremor to Nembe.
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The area lies almost entirely below sea level with a maze of meandering creeks and mangrove swamps. The network of several creeks and rivers in the South, all flow into the Atlantic Ocean via the major rivers such as San Bartholomew, Brass, Nun, Ramos, Santa Barbara, St. Nicholas, Sangana, Fishtown, Ikebiri Creek, Middleton, Digatoro Creek, Pennington and Dobo.
Bayelsa lies within the heaviest rainfall area in Nigeria, with heavy rain forest and a short dry season (usually from November to March). The mean monthly temperature is in the range of 25°C to 31°C. Mean maximum monthly temperatures range from 26°C to 31°C. The mean annual temperature is uniform for the entire Bayelsa State. The hottest months are December to April. The difference between the wet season and dry season on temperatures is about 2°C at the most. Relative humidity is high in the state throughout the year and decreases slightly in the dry season.
HISTORICAL PLACES IN NIGER DELTA, BAYELSA STATE
KAIAMA MARKET: Kaiama market sprang up at the bank of Kaiama River as the business area of the port where fishermen and traders in other goods come to buy and sell. The market caters to every need and products, especially consumables are quite affordable at low prices.
NIGERIA’S FIRST OIL WELL, OLOIBIRI: In Oloibiri town, there is a monument on the road junction where is sited the first crude oil well, ever drilled in Nigeria when oil was discovered in Nigeria in 1956. The oil well, 12,008 feet deep, marked the beginning of Nigeria’s economic base shift from Agriculture to Oil and gas.
The lake and its surrounding recreational parks is a deliberate effort of the Bayelsa State Government to develop the tourism potentials of the State. It offers boat rides, swimming and relaxation. Also under construction in the vicinity of the lake is a modern galleria of theater arts and cinema as well as a 5-star hotel.
MUNGO PARK RESIDENCE: Named after the explorer Mungo Park who discovered the source of the River, this edifice used to be the divisional Headquarter of the colonial rulers of Brass division. The old building has been preserved and refurbished as a monument of historical tourism. The wood and brick building remains strong, weathering decades of storms.
AKASSA SLAVE TRANSIT CAMP AND TUNNEL : The transit camp found in Ogbokiri, Brass near Akassa in Brass LGA, is the spot where slaves were camped and later transported to the new world (America and Caribbean) through the Atlantic Ocean. Till this day, the grim-looking houses built of iron and brick where slaves were chained as they awaited shipment to the Americas still stands to show the horrific slave trade era.
AKASSA WILDLIFE FOREST: Akassa forest is one of the major forest reserves of the Niger Delta region for bird watching with over 69 species of birds recorded. The reserve is one of the most important roosting area for wintering pale arctic waders and terns in southern Nigeria and it has a land area of 7,200 hectares.
OKPOAMA BEACH: Okpoama Beach is a natural sand beach at the bank of the Atlantic Ocean where a yearly Christmas fiesta takes place. Its shores are washed clean and pure by the gentle rolling waves.
MANGROVE CREEKS: Cruising down the creeks on a fast-moving speed-boat at a high speed may sound incredible to many but it is an experience of a life time for the daring tourist. In tranquil waters, the boat has a free-run through the creeks. There are actual “road junctions” and “bypasses” along the water ways which are a wonder to behold. Depending on the time available, tourists can actually spend four hours between Ogbia and Akassa, the farthest island in Bayelsa.
APOI CREEK FOREST: The forest is a tidal freshwater lowland swamp forest which is located in the central Niger Delta and composed mainly of marshes, mangrove forest and freshwater swamps. The forest is dense and rich in several ecologically and economically valuable flora and fauna species some of which is the red colobus monkey, manatee, sclater guenon, royal python, and chimpanzee. The forest also serves as an important spawning and nursery ground for fish. It is one of the major wetland in the Niger Delta that supports birdlife.
Bayelsa State Senatorial Zones / Districts
Bayelsa state have three (3) Senatorial Zones / Districts. They are Bayelsa Central Senatorial Zone / District, Bayelsa East Senatorial Zone / District and Bayelsa West Senatorial Zone / District. Below are the Senatorial Zones / Districts and the local government areas that made up the districts.
Bayelsa Central Senatorial Zone / District
- Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area
- Southern Ijaw Local Government Area
- Yenagoa Local Government Area
Bayelsa East Senatorial Zone / District
- Brass Local Government Area
- Nembe Local Government Area
- Ogbia Local Government Area
Bayelsa West Senatorial Zone / District
- Ekeremor Local Government Area
- Sagbama Local Government Area
Bayelsa State Local Government Areas
Bayelsa State consists of eight (8) Local Government Areas:
1) Brass
2) Ekeremor
3) Kolokuma/Opokuma
4) Nembe
5) Ogbia
6) Sagbama
7) Southern Ijaw
8) Yenagoa
| Location of Bayelsa State in Nigeria | |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Geopolitical zone | South South |
| Created | 1 October 1996 |
| CAPITAL | Yenegua |
| SQUARE METERS | 21,110sqkm/10,773km square |
| Population 1,704,515 |
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