Bayelsa: Niger Delta’s Oil-Rich State Struggles Beneath the Weight of Environmental and Infrastructural Neglect

YENAGOA: Created on October 1, 1996, from the old Rivers State, Bayelsa stands as the cradle of Nigeria’s oil industry.

It was in the small community of Oloibiri that the country first struck crude oil in 1956 a discovery that would change the nation’s economic trajectory.

Today, Bayelsa accounts for over 30% of Nigeria’s daily oil production and houses some of the largest natural gas reserves in Africa.

Despite its enormous wealth from oil and gas, Bayelsa remains one of Nigeria’s most underdeveloped states. The state’s geography over 70% riverine—poses significant logistical challenges.

With only eight local government areas, many communities, especially in Brass, Ekeremor, and Southern Ijaw, are accessible only by boat.

In places like Twon-Brass, Oporoma, and Nembe, residents pay exorbitantly for boat transport, sometimes spending thousands of naira daily just to access schools, health facilities, or government services.

For many, speedboats are the only lifeline, and they come with high fuel costs, safety risks, and long travel times.

Although Yenagoa, the state capital, has seen modest infrastructure growth such as the expansion of the Isaac Boro Expressway and the Bayelsa International Airport these developments hardly reach the deeply riverine communities.

During the 2022 floods, over 1.3 million people were displaced, with many losing their homes and livelihoods. Climate change, poor urban planning, and blocked waterways continue to exacerbate these disasters.

Politically, Bayelsa has remained a stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. Prominent political figures such as former President Goodluck Jonathan, who hails from Otuoke in Ogbia LGA, have significantly shaped both state and national politics.

Current Governor Douye Diri continues to champion infrastructural expansion and environmental justice, although critics argue that much more needs to be done to match the state’s resource wealth with tangible development.

Economically, Bayelsa is dominated by the oil and gas sector. Multinational companies like Shell, Agip, and SPDC have operations in the state, but local participation in the industry remains limited. In Yenagoa, local businesses such as the Aridolf Hotels & Spa, Tombia Market, and several filling stations and eateries contribute to the urban economy.

Small-scale enterprises in hairdressing, welding, fishing, and agriculture also thrive, although they often lack access to credit and market infrastructure. The state’s GDP per capita is among Nigeria’s highest, yet poverty remains widespread, especially in coastal areas

Bayelsa is also culturally rich. Predominantly Ijaw, the state boasts vibrant traditions from masquerade festivals and fishing ceremonies to intricate folk music.

Language plays a key cultural role, with dialects such as Nembe, Epie-Atissa, Kolokuma, and Izon spoken across the state. Christianity is the dominant religion, with Pentecostalism, Catholicism, and Anglicanism widely practiced.

Churches like Salvation Ministries, Redeemed Christian Church of God, and St. Matthias Anglican Cathedral play key roles in both spiritual life and community development.

The state’s environmental crisis remains perhaps its most pressing challenge. Oil spills, gas flaring, and illegal crude refining have devastated farmlands, rivers, and forests.

Black soot now darkens the skies in parts of Yenagoa and surrounding towns, raising health concerns among residents.As Bayelsa moves toward the future, the call for justice, remediation, and inclusive development grows louder.

The wealth beneath its soil is undeniablebut until infrastructure, environmental protection, and equitable economic opportunities reach every corner, the “Glory of All Lands” remains a dream deferred