November 21, (THEWILL) – Bayelsa State was created on October 1, 1996 out of the old Rivers State and its capital is Yenagoa . The state shares boundaries with Delta in the North, Rivers State on the East and the Atlantic Ocean on the West and South.
It has 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.
Bayelsa is an oil-rich state and site of Oloibiri oilfield where oil was first discovered in Nigeria and estimated to produce 30-40 percent of the country’s crude oil. As such its economy is dominated by the Petroleum Industry.
The state is reported to have the largest gas reservoir (18 trillion cubic feet) in the country which contributes to local economic development. Occupations in the State include fishing, farming, palm oil milling, lumbering, palm wine tapping, local gin making, trading, carving and weaving.
Tourist Sites
Nigeria’s first oil well, Oloibiri (12,008 feet deep, 1956), Ox-Bow Lake , Mungo Park Residence, Mangrove Creeks, Apoi Creek Forest, The Agricultural Palm Beach, The Odi Holiday Resort in Kolo, The Ossiama Fish Lake ,The Koluama Holiday Resort, Akassa Lighthouse, Akassa Slave Transit Camp and Tunnel, Bayelsa National Forest, Edumanum Forest Reserve, Okpoama-Brass Beach, Odioma Beach, Bayelsa Ferry Terminal and Resorts, Ox-Bow Lake Bayelsa, Monument of Late Christopher Iwowari, Statue of Late King Ockiya Mausoleum -Obgolomabirin, The Accent Nembe War Canoe Regatta.
Natural Resources
The state is rich in Crude oil and Natural gas, Salt, Silica sand, Clay, Lime stone, Manganese, Lignite, Lead.
Agribusiness
In addition to being an oil-producing state , the people of Bayelsa have always been involved in Agriculture as their occupation. Some of the produce in the state are timber, cane wood, raffia palm, palm produce, cassava, coco-yam, yam, rice, maize, plantain, sugar cane, iringa (ogbono). Other agricultural products are fish, oyster, shrimp, and other sea foods.
However the oil and gas industry took its toll on the agricultural sector as the state became more dependent on oil while agriculture suffered gross negligence. Realising the need to increase food production, the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, sought partnership with the Peoples Republic of China in agricultural, infrastructure, technical and educational development of the state.
An agribusiness firm, SWEER Global Farms is using modern farming technology and techniques to galvanize food production in Bayelsa State. It said the company found the state suitable for the project because of the potential.
The target of the company is to revolutionize agriculture and agribusiness in the State, because of the natural endowment and peace that exists.
FACT FILE:
Local Government Area: 8
Land area: 8,150 sq mi.
Population: 2.24 million @ 2019
Registered businesses: 263
Public primary schools: 540 circa
Public secondary schools: 300 circa
University (4): Federal – 1, state – 3
Polytechnic (2): Federal 1, state – 1
College of Education : State -1
College of Agriculture : State – 1
College of Arts & Science: 1
Nursing School: State – 1
Health Science : State – 1
Technical School (7): Federal – 1, state – 6
Total Revenue: N156.47bn @ 2020
Total Tax: N12bn
Total IGR: N12.15bn @ 2020 (9.47% of total revenue)
FAAC: N116.40bn @ 2020 (90.53% of total revenue)
Domestic Debt: N114.12bn @ 2020
External Debt: $62.97m @ 2020
Unemployment rate: 34.22 percent @ 2020
Airport: Bayelsa International Airport, Wilberforce, Amassama.
Bayelsa to Execute ‘Belt and Road Initiative’
In a bid to achieve rapid development, the governor is taking a cue from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project.This is a global infrastructure plan conceived in China in 2013 and implemented in over 70 countries with the goal of partnering in the design and implementation of large infrastructure projects.
The state is set to take adequate advantage of its water bodies. According to the governor “We believe Bayelsa offers a considerable window to the world and will be a spectacular platform to showcase the BRI in the building of roads that traverse several water bodies, as well as providing access to a reservoir of resources in the coasts of Bayelsa.
“Our state’s expansive coastline is ideal for fishing, tourism and wind energy. Our government has identified agriculture as the main sector within which it will achieve sustainable development and growth. We have already identified four areas to substantially invest, which are fishing, farming, rice, cassava and plantain cultivation”
The Federal Government said it will further increase the local farmers’ income and create more jobs for youths. Some of the projects meant to actualise the objective include the Mini-Water treatment plants in Sagbama, Paved road networks and solar street lights in different parts of the rural communities; re-stocking of lakes and water bodies, establishment of fish processing plants as well as live birds market in Yenagoa.
The Governor said that the state has huge potential in fish farming and other areas of agribusiness. “If properly tapped, Bayelsa State can feed itself and the entire nation; we will also want to partner with the Federal Government in order to boost the fish production value chain”.
Bayelsa Airport to Boost Agribusiness
The issue of an airport project to be conceived by past and present leaders of the State after creation in 1996 has been welcomed ad\s commendable. This is because of the international status the State has in terms of its location by the Atlantic Ocean bordering other countries. The state is also massively endowed with oil and gas resources including lands for agriculture and agribusiness activities.
“The Bayelsa International Airport came at the right time when the Federal Government is seriously talking about diversifying the economy through other vital sectors, which agriculture is the centre piece to drive it, and Bayelsa State has one of the best soils for agricultural purposes that would be seen as natural hub for agribusiness and also to promote organic agriculture in all areas”.
According to the government, “We know from time that with the take-off of commercial flight activities at the Bayelsa International Airport it will boost agribusiness in the state and the Niger Delta region in no distant time because it will massively attract investors to the State.
“And this airport will be a selling point we will use to attract our partners abroad into the State to invest not just only in agriculture but in other sectors that are yet to be tapped and unlocked. We see a lot of business and investment potentials. and where to delve in for investment.”
Challenging Factors: Water piracy, militancy, lack of access roads, insecurity, water pollution, poor power supply.
Sam Diala is a Bloomberg Certified Financial Journalist with over a decade of experience in reporting Business and Economy. He is Business Editor at THEWILL Newspaper, and believes that work, not wishes, creates wealth.
