Bayelsa State is located in the South South region of Nigeria, in the Niger Delta. Along with other states, it became a part of the Federation in October 1996.
Bayelsa State is home to hundreds of rivers and creeks, and is bounded by Delta, Rivers, and the Atlantic Ocean. The state’s capital, Yenagoa, was formerly part of Rivers State.
Bayelsa has eight Local Government Areas (LGAs), each with its own administrative headquarters. These LGAs are Brass, Ekeremor, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Nembe, Ogbia, Sagbama, Southern Ijaw, and Yenagoa.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of all current LGAs in Bayelsa State, their headquarters, senatorial districts, and the ongoing push for expanded local governance.
Current 8 Local Government Areas in Bayelsa State
| No. | Local Government Area | Administrative Headquarters |
| 1 | Brass | Twon Brass |
| 2 | Ekeremor | Ekeremor |
| 3 | Kolokuma/Opokuma | Kaiama |
| 4 | Nembe | Nembe |
| 5 | Ogbia | Ogbia |
| 6 | Sagbama | Sagbama |
| 7 | Southern Ijaw | Oporoma |
| 8 | Yenagoa | Yenagoa |
The eight LGAs are confirmed by the Bayelsa State Government. Administrative headquarters are also consistently identified in state and reference records.
Bayelsa State Senatorial Districts
Bayelsa State is also divided into three senatorial districts for representation in the Nigerian Senate:
- Bayelsa East
- Bayelsa Central
- Bayelsa West
The state government’s Local Government Budget Manual uses these senatorial districts as part of its geographic coding structure for local government administration.
Local Government Areas, Administrative Headquarters, and Senatorial Zones
| S/N | Local Government Area | Headquarters | Senatorial District |
| 1 | Brass | Twon-Brass | Bayelsa East |
| 2 | Ekeremor | Ekeremor | Bayelsa West |
| 3 | Kolokuma/Opokuma | Kaiama | Bayelsa Central |
| 4 | Nembe | Nembe (Ogbolomabiri) | Bayelsa East |
| 5 | Ogbia | Ogbia Town | Bayelsa East |
| 6 | Sagbama | Sagbama | Bayelsa West |
| 7 | Southern Ijaw | Oporoma | Bayelsa Central |
| 8 | Yenagoa | Yenagoa | Bayelsa Central |
Sources: Bayelsa State Government,
Profile of Each Local Government Area
1. Brass LGA
Headquarters: Twon-Brass
Brass LGA has beaches and has a heritage of culture. Brass LGA has infrastructure development with the Nembe-Brass Road project.
This project has the goal of road access to the Brass Atlantic Terminal, helping to develop the “Blue Economy.” Brass is one of three LGAs whose name when abbreviated, “BA,” contributed to the name of Bayelsa State.
2. Ekeremor LGA
Ekeremor has oil and gas. Several oil companies operate in the area. Like Brass, Ekeremor is a LGA that has historically been difficult to access by road. The 2026 administration’s focus on the three Senatorial roads provides access to the state capital by land to LGAs like Ekeremor.
3. Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA
Kolokuma/Opokuma has a headquarters at Kaiama. Kaiama is a peaceful town and is known for its agriculture. It is known for its beautiful landscape and is the birthplace of Major Isaac Adaka Boro, a noted Ijawa nationalist.
4. Nembe LGA
Nembe is known for being one of the trading centers and the first of the Niger Delta region to come in contact with Europeans. The Nembe Kingdom has a lot of interesting traditional history and is a cultural resource.
5. Ogbia LGA
Ogbia has the unique position of being the site of the Oloibiri Town, where oil was first discovered in Nigeria.
The LGA is also the hometown of former Nigerian President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. In 2026, Ogbia is hosting a major infrastructure project: the newly commissioned 60-Megawatt Gas Turbine Plant at Elebele, which now provides uninterrupted power to Yenagoa and serves as the backbone for the state’s new industrial park
6. Sagbama LGA
Headquarters: Sagbama
Sagbama offers a good mix of agricultural, residential, and educational opportunities. It is an active and growing community. Sagbama is one of three Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Bayelsa State that contributed to the name of Bayelsa State through the initials of the Local Government Areas (SA).
7. Southern Ijaw LGA
Headquarters: Oporoma
Southern Ijaw LGA contains the greatest landmass, and the estimated population is the highest of all LGAs in Bayelsa State. Southern Ijaw LGA has riverine communities and some of the most complicated challenges for development in Bayelsa State.
This LGA is the focus of the Rural Access Road Authority (RARA) that was established in 2025 to address the challenge of riverine connectivity.
It is worth noting that the headquarters of Southern Ijaw, Oporoma, has not previously been accessible by road, and Governor Douye Diri referenced this lack of road access as an example of the historical neglect of the area.
8. Yenagoa LGA
Headquarters: Yenagoa
As the capital of Bayelsa State, Yenagoa is both the seat of the local government and site of active commercial, development and governmental activities.
The expansion of Glory Drive Phase 3 has opened up new business corridors, linking the state capital to the Epie Creek bridge. Yenagoa was one of the three LGAs whose acronym (YE) contributed to the name “Bayelsa”
Background: The History of Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Bayelsa State
The administrative development of Bayelsa State is rather uneventful when compared to other states in Nigeria. Prior to 1996, Bayelsa State was part of Rivers State. ‘Bayelsa’ derives its name from the initials of three Local Government Areas that combined to form one Area and was one of the first administrative subdivisions of the state.
- 1st October 1996: Bayelsa State was created from the old Rivers State by General Sani Abacha. The state was initially divided into eight Local Government Areas.
- 1999: The government of Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha passed the Bayelsa State Government Local Government Areas Creation and Transitional Law, which created 24 Rural Development Areas (RDAs) to provide efficient service delivery including healthcare, education, and infrastructure development. However, these RDAs lacked the full administrative and financial powers of constitutionally recognised LGAs.
- 2025–2026: A major push for additional LGAs gained momentum. The Ijaw National Congress (INC) formally demanded the creation of 33 LGAs. The Bayelsa State Government subsequently submitted a formal proposal to the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, requesting the creation of 25 additional Local Government Areas
Proposed 25 New Local Government Areas (2025)
Bayelsa State made its case to the National Assembly’s Constitution Review Committee for the creation of 25 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in July 2025. Bayelsa wishes to increase its councils from 8 to 33.
This case was made by Mr. Biriyai Dambo, Bayelsa State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, during the public hearing organized by the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution South South Centre A.
Arguments for More LGAs
The main reasons for the push for the creation of new LGAs in Bayelsa include the following.
– The 8 LGAs of Bayelsa State do not appropriately represent Bayelsa State population and its size.
– Bayelsa State does not meet the required minimum of 10 Local Government Areas needed to constitute a State.
– With more Local Government Areas, Bayelsa State will have a greater share of the Federal Allocation as well as more representatives at the Federal level.
– More Local Government Areas will help improve the infrastructural development of the state’s predominantly riverine communities through the establishment of additional local government councils.
– Bayelsa State is in the position to fund the creation of additional Local Government Areas.
– Bayelsa is an oil producing state which Governor Diri considers to be an injustice, as, currently, Bayelsa has only 8 Local Government Areas when compared to other states that have up to 40 or 44 Local Government Areas.
Legislative Status of the Proposal
In 2026, the proposal to create 25 Local Government Areas in Bayelsa State, which will bring the total from 8 to 33, is currently untabled in the legislature.
The creation of new LGAs requires a constitutional amendment, as stipulated by Section 8(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
It is important to note that these 25 proposed LGAs are not yet legally operational. They will only come into existence if the National Assembly passes the necessary enabling legislation and the President assents to it.
Important Towns and Communities in Bayelsa State
Apart from the LGA headquarters, Bayelsa has many notable towns and communities. These include Yenagoa, Twon Brass, Nembe, Ogbia, Otuoke, Oloibiri, Kaiama, Sagbama, Ekeremor, Oporoma, Amassoma, Okpoama and Odi.
Several of these communities have historical, cultural, educational or economic importance within the state.
For example, Oloibiri is historically significant because of Nigeria’s first commercial oil discovery, while Kaiama has an important place in the history of Niger Delta activism.
Summary of Bayelsa State LGAs
| No. | LGA | Headquarters | Key Characteristic |
| 1 | Brass | Twon Brass | Coastal and maritime communities |
| 2 | Ekeremor | Ekeremor | Riverine and agricultural communities |
| 3 | Kolokuma/Opokuma | Kaiama | Cultural and historical significance |
| 4 | Nembe | Nembe | Oil, fishing and Ijaw heritage |
| 5 | Ogbia | Ogbia | Oloibiri and petroleum history |
| 6 | Sagbama | Sagbama | Agriculture and riverine communities |
| 7 | Southern Ijaw | Oporoma | Extensive waterways and coastal environment |
| 8 | Yenagoa | Yenagoa | State capital and administrative centre |
Conclusion
Bayelsa State has 8 Local Government Areas; Brass, Ekeremor, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Nembe, Ogbia, Sagbama, Southern Ijaw and Yenagoa. These areas are administrative and economic centers of the state.
The eight Local Government Areas reflect the various linguistic, cultural, historic, economic and environmental characteristics of Bayelsa State. Brass has a coastal environment, and Ogbia has a historical oil and gas sector. Yenagoa and Southern Ijaw are important administratively, while Kolokuma/Opokuma has a network of waterways of great extent.
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