Bayelsa State

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.

Bayelsa State Government House,The Bayelsa State house government house located at Yenegoa serves as the Official home to the state governor  or chief state executive of the state and their families.It is known to have what can be referred to as the most elegant edifice for the Governor's office in the whole nation which comprises of the State governor's office,the deputy state governor's and the administrative office blocks.It is the official venue for events such as the state's executive council meetings,government conferences,swearing in of cabinet members and of course the Governor's official business.

Bayelsa 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 live in poverty.

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 engage in fishing on a subsistence and commercial level. The Bayelsa State government is otherwise the main employer in the state.

Bayelsa State consists of eight local government areas:

  1. Brass
  2. Ekeremor
  3. Kolokuma/Opokuma
  4. Nembe
  5. Ogbia
  6. Sagbama
  7. Southern Ijaw
  8. Yenagoa
  • Clay
  • Gypsum 
  • Limestone 
  • Uranium 
  • Manganese 
  • Lignite
  • Lead/Zinc 
  • Oil and Gas

Opportunities for investment exist in:

  • Agribusiness
  • Light Manufacturing
  • Healthcare
  • Tourism
  • Energy
  • Mining
  • Transportation
  • Niger Delta University
  • Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education
  • College of Health Sciences
  • School of Nursing
  • Bayelsa State College of Arts and Science
  • Bayelsa Medical University
  • University of Africa
  • Federal Polytechnic Ekeowe
  • International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality
  • Federal University Otuoke

Bayelsa State

Slogan
The Glory of All Lands

Capital: Yenagoa

Governor

Douye Diri

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