BAYELSA STATE OF NIGERIA

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

GENERAL INFORMATION

AREA :…………………………………………………... 21,100 SQ.KM

CAPITAL ………………………………………. YENAGOA

POPULATION ……………………. Estimated at 2,000,000

CLIMATE AND VEGETATION

Bayelsa lies in the heaviest rainfall area in Nigeria, with heavy rain forest and a short dry season (from November to March).

TEMPERATURE
Humid: 30⁰C (mean)

HISTORY
Bayelsa State was created on October 1, 1996 out of the old Rivers State. The name, Bayelsa, is an acronym of three former Local Government areas – Brass, Yenagoa and Sagbama – in the then Rivers State, which had earlier on comprised the entire area now constituting Bayelsa State. The then Brass LGA is what makes up the present Nembe, Brass and Ogbia Local Government Areas; the then Yenagoa  LGA consist of the present Yenagoa, Kolokuma/Opokuma and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas and the then Sagbama LGA  is what makes up the present Sagbama and Ekeremor Local Government Areas.

The tradition in the old Rivers State, which is still the norm in Bayelsa State now, is the use of acronyms for local government areas.  People referred to Brass Local Government Area as BALGA, for short; Yenagoa was simply YELGA, while Sagbama was SALGA.  Since personalities from BALGA, YELGA, and SALGA made up the State Creation Movement prior to the 1996 exercise, the proposed name agreed upon was BAYELSA.

ADMINISTRATORS
Since its creation, Bayelsa State has had the following chief executives:
Navy Captain Philip Oladipo Ayeni (Military Governor: 1 October, 1996 – 28 February, 1997).Police Commissioner Habu Daura (Acting Governor: 28 February, 1997 – 27 June, 1997).
Navy Capital Omoniyi Caleb Olubolade (Military Governor: 27 June, 1997 – 9 July, 1998).
Lt. Col. Paul Edor Obi (Military Administrator: 9 July, 1998 – 29 May, 1999).
Chief Dr. Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha (JP) (first Executive Governor: 29 May 1999 - 9 December 2005)

Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (second Executive Governor: 12 December 2005 to date).

 
LOCATION
Bayelsa State is geographically located within Latitude 04^o 15’ North, 05 ^o 23’ South and longitude 05 ^o 22’ West and 06 ^o 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.

AREA
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. 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. The vegetation here is characterized by the mangrove forest.  In the North, it has a thick forest with arable lands for cultivation of various food and cash crops.

PEOPLE AND LANGUAGE

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. Bayelsa State has 24 first class traditional rulers (and many second and third class traditional rulers) recognized by the State Government.

OCCUPATION
The major occupations in the State are fishing, farming, palm oil milling, lumbering, palm wine tapping, local gin making, trading, carving and weaving.

 COMMERCE, PETROLEUM AND INDUSTRY 
Bayelsa State is a major oil and gas producing area and it contributes over 30% of Nigeria’s oil production. These are hundreds of oil wells and flow stations across the state. Oloibiri in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state is where oil was first struck in Nigeria in commercial quantities in 1956. Gas production activities are currently being intensified in the State.  The LNG Gas Supply Plant that supplies 53% of the gas feedstock to the LNG plant in Bonny is located in Oluasiri in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. There is a proposed network of associated gas gathering pipelines from the Nembe Creek oilfields to the LNG plant. The major oil exploration and production companies operating in the State are Shell, Agip and ChevronTexaco.

 The Kolo Creek Gas Turbine Project owned by the Bayelsa State Government supplies electricity to Yenagoa, the State Capital, and surrounding towns and villages.  Bayelsa State is, presently, the only State in Nigeria that provides electricity for itself without any supply from the National Electricity Grid.

 In addition to oil and gas, the State has large reserves of clay, sand and gravel’s of importance to the industrial sector.

 NOTABLE TOURIST ATTRACTIONS                                                                                                                                                         There is no doubt that Bayelsa State has a wide variety of customs, traditions, festivals, music, arts, crafts, folklore, artifacts, museums and monuments.  The State government, through the Ministry of Information & Culture, and the Bayelsa State Council for Arts & Culture, has adopted strategies to properly harness and develop them into tourist attractions.

 There are many tourist attractions in Bayelsa State.  There are two museums in Nembe, namely Olodi Museum and Mangrove Museum.  They are stocked with artifacts dating back to hundreds of years.  An Oil Museum has been proposed by the Federal Government for Oloibiri in Ogbia Local Government Area to commemorate the first striking of oil in commercial quantity in Nigeria in 1956.  The museum when established will serve as a center of excellence in petroleum history, entertainment and learning.

 At Twon-Brass in Brass Local Government Area, there are the Commonwealth Graves of British soldiers who died in the Nembe-British War of 1895 (otherwise know as the Akassa war).  In nearby Akassa, there is the Slaves Transit Camp.   There is a War Boat in Aleibiri, which is a tourist wonder, Manila and Bronze heads were discover in a forest in Opume in Ogbia Local Government Area.  The beautiful Atlantic Ocean beaches at Twon-Brass, Okpoama, Olodiama, Koluama, Sangana and other at Odi, Kaiama, Nembe and the evergreen expanse of mangrove lands in the deep south of the State are also of great exotic and tourist value.

MUSEUMS AND MONUMENTS IN BAYELSA STATE  
The following museums and monuments are also tourist attractions in Bayelsa State.

1        The White Graveyard at Twon-Brass in Brass LGA.

2        The Slave Tunnel at Akassa in Brass LGA.

3        Olodi Museum at Ogbolomabiri in Nembe LGA.

4        The Mangrove Museum at Nembe in Nembe LGA.

5        Ogidigan Deity at Bassambiri in Nembe LGA.

6        King Ockiya’s Mausoleum at Ogbolomabiri in Nembe LGA.

7        Late Chief  Christopher Iwowari’s Monument at Bassambiri in Nembe LGA.

8        Bronze Heads at Opume in Ogbia LGA.

9        The proposed National Oil Museum at Oloibiri in Ogbia LGA, where crude oil was first struck in commercial quantity in Nigeria in 1956.

10    Isaac Boro Memorial Monument at Kaiama in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA.

 
CULTURAL FESTIVALS IN BAYELSA STATE

Below is a list of some of the major festivals in the state: 

 
OTHER TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

1        The Akassa Light House in Brass Local Government Area

2        The Okpoama Beach in Brass Local Government Area

3        The Koluama Holiday Resort in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area

4        Lake Efi at Sabagreia in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area

5        Ogori ba Uge Love Boat at Odi in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area

6        Ogori ba Uge Beach Carnival at Odi in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area

7        Famgbe Beach Carnival in Yenagoa Local Government Area

8        The Ossiama Fish Lake in Sagbama Local Government Area

9        The Amasinghan Love Boat of Aleibiri in Ekeremor Local Government Area

10    The Agricultural Palm Beach at Ekeremor in Ekeremor Local Government Area

11    The Agge Palm Beach in Ekeremor Local Government Area

AGRICULTURE AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES

The State is endowed with arable lands, rich and diversified marine life and an abundant forestry. Some of the agricultural resources would be delineated under Food Crops, Timber Trees and Non-timber Forest Products.

FOOD CROPS: Oil Palm, Rubber, Coconut, Ginger, Rice, Sugar Cane, Citrus, Pineapples, Bananas, Plantain, Yam, Cassava, Cocoyam, Sweet Potatoes, Maize, and Pawpaw.

TIMBER TREES: Iroko, Lagos Mahogany, Iron Wood, African Walnut, Opepe, Black Afara, White Afara, Ogea, Sangha, Abura, Silk Cotton Tree, Red Mangrove, Teak, Melina Tree, and Neem.

NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS: Bread Fruit, Ube (Peer), Udara, Kola Nut, Bitter Kola, Tawain, Arigogo, Groundnut (Apapa), Raffia Palm, White Mangrove, Dogonyaro, Enge, Aziza, Alligator Pepper (Fesari), Piassava, The Cane Plant, and Indian Bamboo. Based on the abundant resources, the State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources has embarked on a programme of forest preservation. Consequently, certain areas in the State have been proposed for preservation.  These are Taylor Creek (21.91sq km), Ikebiri Creek Forest (191.71 sq km), Nun River Forest (97.15 sq km) and Apoi Creek Forest (64.77 sq km).

 
MEMBERS OF BAYELSA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY  

BAYELSA STATE MEMBERS OF THE FEDERAL HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

S/N      NAME                                    CONSTITUENCY                                     PARTY

1.         Hon. Youpele Kalango             Brass Federal Constituency                     PDP

2.         Hon. Clever Ikisikpo                Ogbia Federal Constituency                    PDP

3.         Hon. Christopher Enai            Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency PDP 

4.         Hon. Ebikeme Ere                   Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency        APGA

5.         Hon. Bolous Indiamaowei       Yenagoa Federal Constituency                PDP

BAYELSA STATE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

1.         Sen. Inatimi Rufus-Spiff           Brass Senatorial District                         PDP

2.         Sen. J. K. Brambaifa                 Sagbama/Ekeremor Senatorial District   PDP

3.          Sen. David Kobina Brigidi       Yenagoa Senatorial District                     PDP

BAYELSA STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

1. Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi Deputy Governor

2. Dr. Boladei Godknows Igali Secretary to State Government

S/N      NAME OF COMMISSIONER                    PORTFOLIO
3. Barr. H.S. Dickson Attorney General/ Commissioner for Justice
4. Mr. M.M.C. Igbodo Finance
5. Chief Frank Akpoebi Health
6. Hon. Tobias James Education
7. Engr. Charles Ambaowei Works & Infrastructure
8. Mr. Gilbert Adeh Agriculture & National Resources
9. Mr. Idubamo Imbasi Budget & Economic Planning.
10. Engr. Topido Amanana Public Utilities
11. Engr. Austin Ogionwo Lands & Housing
12. Mr. Victor Akenge Environment
13. Miss Ononye Beredugo Transport
14. Hon. Azibaolonari Nelson Information, Culture & Tourism
15. Chief Abeke Ebikake Commerce & Industry
16. Mr. Douye Diri Youths & Sports
17. Mrs. Aperetari Ogugu Women & Social Welfare
18. Chief D.W. Degi-Eremieyun Local Govt. & Rural Development
19. Arch. Reuben Okoya Special Projects
20. Chief Blessing Izagara Technology & Technical Development
21. Mrs. Charity Vedelago Special Duties, Governor's Office
22. Mr. Ayabakuro Nelson Special Duties, Governor's Office, Ogbolomabiri
23. Mr. Adolphus Forcados Special Duties, Governor's Office, Oporoma
24. Mr. Dickson Bekebai Special Duties, Governor's Office, Sagbama            

CONSTITUTION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

As at the time of the creation of Bayelsa State on October 1, 1996, there were only eight (8) local government areas, viz; Brass, Ekeremor, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Nembe, Ogbia, Southern Ijaw, Sagbama, and Yenagoa City.  On assumption of office on May 29, 1999, the Chief Alamieyeseigha Administration initiated a bill to start the process of creating addition local government areas.  This was with the aim of bringing government and development closer to the people at the grassroots.  The result was the creation of twenty-four additional local government areas on December 8, 1999, bringing the total local government areas in the state to thirty-two (32). The local government areas and their headquarters are delineated below.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN BAYELSA AND THEIR HEADQUARTERS

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Last Modified: 18-February-06

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