Located in south-south geopolitical zone of Nigeria, 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 population engage in fishing on a subsistence and commercial level.
History
Created out of the old Rivers State in 1996, the name Bayelsa is an acronym of three former local government area, Brass, Yenagoa, and Sagbama. Bayelsa State is located in an oil rich Niger Delta area where Nigeria’s first oil well at Oloibiri was erected when the country joined the ranks of oil producers in 1958 when its first oil field came on stream producing 5100 bpd.
People & Culture
Even though 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.
Occupation
The major occupations in the State are fishing, farming, palm oil milling, lumbering, palm wine tapping, local gin making, trading, carving and weaving.
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.
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.
Cities & Towns
The major towns in Bayelsa State are Yenagoa, Amasoma, Sagbama, Obi, Kauama, Oloibiri, Ogbia, Oporama, Koluama, Brass, and Opokuma. There are eight local government areas; these are brass, Ekeremor, Kolokuma/Opkuma, Nembe, Ogbia, Sagbama, Southern-Ijaw and Yenagoa.
Climate
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.
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.
Ox-Bow Lake: 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.
Other places of interest include:
The Agricultural Palm Beach in Ekeremor LGA
The Odi Holiday Resort in Kolo Kuma/Opokuma LGA
The Ossiama Fish Lake in Southern Ijaw LGA
The Koluama holiday resort in southern Ijaw LGA
The Okpoama beach in Brass LGA
The Isaac Adaka Boro Monument at Kaiama in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA
The Marble Monument of late Chief Christopher Iwowari in Nmbe LGA
Statue of late King Ockiya Mausoleum at Ogbolomabiriin Nembe LGA
The Ancient Nembe War Canoe Regatta in Nembe LGA
Address: Arietalin Road, Ovom, Yenagoa.
A 41 rooms hotel complex (singles, double, semi double suites). Fully air-conditioned with DSTV/TV network, Bar Services, S/Proof standby Generator, Swimming pool. Tel: +234 8038967670, 08033312282, 08033368393
Ayok’s Hotels
Address: Opadec Road, Amarata, Yenagoa.
25 rooms (singles, double, senior burgle). Fully air-conditioned, cooling fan, refrigerator, standby power generator.Tel: +234 8037940954
Atlantic Choice
Swali Town, Yenagoa.
8 single rooms
Akoi Guest House
State INEC Road, Kpansia Town, Yenagoa.
15 rooms (singles, doubles, cooling fan, air-conditioning, Cable TV, standby power generator
Tel: +234 8032708603, 08064579133
Barath Hotel Ltd
Aadress: Biogbolo, Yenagoa
22 rooms (singles, double, semi-double, diplomat suites, presidential suites). Fully air-conditioned, cable TV, bar services, standby power generator, swimming pool. Tel: +234 8058140435
Latik Hotel
Address: 37 INEC Road, Yenagoa
60 rooms (singles, doubles, executive suites, ambassadorial suites). Fully air-conditioned, cable TV, bar services, standby power generator
Tel: +234 803 316 7155, 0802 329 1705, 080 35646091, 080 32660266
Bay Bridge Hotels
Address:Bay Bridge Road, Kpansia Town, Yenagoa.
50 rooms (singles, double and semi double, suites). Fully air-conditioned, colling fan, Cable TV, refrigerator,
Tel: +234 80 59085703, 080 33303834
Gevtex Hotels
Address: INEC Road, Yenagoa
37 rooms (singles, doubles, executive suites, presidential suites). Fully air-conditioned, cable TV, bar and restaurant, parking spaces, standby power generator. Tel: +234 806 815 2351,
Creek Hotel
Address: Hospital Road, Opposite NIPOST Office, Ovon, Yenagoa.
44 rooms (singles, double & semi double, diplomat suites, presidential suites, conference hall). Fully air-conditioned, cable TV, bar services, conference hall, restaurant. Tel: +234 89 490262
Dau Karina Hotels
Address: Punch Road, Off Imgbi Road, Amarata Town, Yenagoa.
29 rooms (singles, double suites, luxury suites). Equipped with cooling fan, air condition, refrigerator, standby power generator. Tel: +234 80 35479617, 080 59013268, 080 38960930
Emytel Hotel
Address: Biogbolo Town, Yenagoa
19 rooms (singles, double & semi double suites). Equipped with cooling fan, air condition, bar services, cable TV. Tel: +234 80 63949282, 080 376629667
Ebis Guest House
Address: Ebi’s Road, Biogbolo Town, Yenagoa
22 rooms (singles, double & semi double, executive double). Equipped with cooling fan, air condition, bar services, cable TV, standby power generator. Tel:+234 89 490653, 080 37734494
