Tourism in Bayelsa State

Tourism in Nigeria and Bayelsa State

The Natural Habitat of Bayelsa State

Bayelsa State is situated at the heart of the West African rain forest in the Niger Delta. With its superb greenery and beautiful forests, the state has abundant supply of wildlife and fish. It is one of the most important areas in Nigeria, in terms of biodiversity. The mangrove forest of the Delta is the largest in Africa and the 3^rd largest in the world. Thus, contributing immensely, to the oxygen supply of planet earth. The forests, mangroves and fisheries are vital to the livelihoods of the community. Women, in particular, rely on the non-timber forest products for subsistence as well as cash incomes. Bayelsa state has hundreds of rivers and creeks (which are tributaries of the River Niger) that flow into the Atlantic Ocean. The state has the most beautiful tourist beaches in Nigeria.

Introduction to Tourists Attractions

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.

The White Graveyard at Twon-Brass in Brass LGA.

The Slave Tunnel at Akassa in Brass LGA.

Olodi Museum at Ogbolomabiri in Nembe LGA.

The Mangrove Museum at Nembe in Nembe LGA.

Ogidigan Deity at Bassambiri in Nembe LGA.

King Ockiya’s Mausoleum at Ogbolomabiri in Nembe LGA.

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

Bronze Heads at Opume in Ogbia LGA.

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

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

 

Cultural Festival in Bayelsa StateBayelsa is a State of fun and festivities all year round. This attracts visitors from all over Nigeria and overseas. Below is a list of some of the major festivals in the state:-

S/N	FESTIVAL	TOWN/LGA	DESCRIPTION	PERIOD
1.	Eremutoru Festival	Peretoru in Ekeremor LGA	Ceremonial	December – 2nd January
2.	Ikpai-Kpai (Masquerade dance) Annual Festival	Ekowe in Southern Ijaw LGA	Ceremonial	1st January
3.	Oguberi Festival	Ndoro in Ekeremor LGA	Ceremonial	Feb/March
4.	Opuaduno Lake Fishing Festival	Akeddeowei/Opuaduno in Southern Ijaw LGA	Fishing	March every Year
5.	Seigbein Fishing Festival	Sagbama in Sagbama LGA	Fishing	27th May
6.	Seigbein Fishing Festival	Amassoma in Southern Ijaw LGA	Fishing	28th - 30th May
7.	Okolode Festival	Ekpetiama Clan in Yenagoa LGA	New Yam	5th June
8.	Uge Adiafa Festival	Atissa Clan in Yenagoa LGA	New Yam	25th June
9.	Obunem Festival	Epie Clan in Yenagoa LGA	New Yam	1st Week of July
10.	Ogori ba Uge Festival	Odi in Kolokuma /Opokuma LGA	Killing of Buffalo	27th July
12.	Tungbo Liberation Day	Tungbo in Sagbama LGA	Ceremonial	1st October
13.	Izogua Annual Festival	Otuokpoti in Ogbia LGA	Ceremonial	November
14.	Amasinghan Festival	Aleibiri in Ekeremor LGA	Ceremonial	20th – 25th December
15.	Asi Oge Festival	Ekeremor in Ekeremor LGA	Ceremonial	20th – 25th December
16.	Ikagi Masquerade	Nembe Bassambiri in Nembe LGA	Ceremonial	Every 20 Years
17.	Idumangi Olali	Okpoama in Brass LGA	Festival of Deities	Every Seven Years
18.	Igboruma War Canoe	Otuokpoti in Ogbia LGA	Ceremonial	Periodically
19.	Lake Ifi Fishing Festival	Sabagreia in Kolokuma /Opokuma LGA	Fishing	Periodically
20.	Idumangi Festival	Nembe in Nembe LGA	Traditional	Periodically
21.	Eyal Awani Festival	Idema in Ogbia LGA	Ceremonial
22.	The Ancient War Canoe Regatta of Nembe	Nembe in Nembe LGA	Ceremonial
23.	Eyal Asigho	Okoroba in Nembe LGA	Ceremonial
24.	Isemi Festival	Nembe in Nembe LGA	Traditional
25.	Famgbe Beach Festival	Famgbe in Yenagoa LGA	Ceremonial
26.	Abadiyai Annual Festival	Tabuama, Twon-Brass in Brass LGA	Ceremonial
27.	Okoti Agori Masquerade Display	Diebu in Southern Ijaw LGA	Ceremonial

Other Tourist Attractions

The historic Akassa Light House in Brass Local Government Area

The Okpoama Beach in Brass Local Government Area

The Koluama Holiday Resort in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area

Lake Efi at Sabagreia in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area

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

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

Famgbe Beach Carnival in Yenagoa Local Government Area

The Ossiama Fish Lake in Sagbama Local Government Area

The Amasinghan Love Boat of Aleibiri in Ekeremor Local Government Area

The Agricultural Palm Beach at Ekeremor in Ekeremor Local Government Area

The Agge Palm Beach in Ekeremor Local Government Area

Bayelsa is truly the tourists haven of Nigeria.