Rivers State: NBA Returns to Port Harcourt After Democratic Institutions Restored

• The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) will hold its 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
• The decision to return to Port Harcourt is not a compensation for the relocation of the previous conference, but rather a result of the restoration of democratic institutions.
• Over 23,000 lawyers are expected to attend the conference, injecting hundreds of billions of Naira into the local economy.

We (NBA) left Port Harcourt because we said the declaration of state of emergency on Port Harcourt, an appointment of a Sole Administrator was unconstitutional. And we stated that if normalcy and democracy return to Port Harcourt, well come back.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has announced its decision to hold its 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. This move comes after the association's previous conference was relocated from Port Harcourt to Enugu State in 2025 due to a state of emergency and the appointment of an administrator. The NBA President, Afam Osigwe, clarified that the decision to return to Port Harcourt is not a compensation for the relocation, but rather a result of the restoration of democratic institutions in the state. According to Osigwe, the association had made it clear at the time that they would return to Port Harcourt when democratic institutions were fully restored.

The NBA's decision to hold its conference in Port Harcourt has been met with a mixed reaction from stakeholders. In 2025, the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, had released N300m to the association as support for the conference, but the funds were allegedly not used due to the relocation of the conference. The then Administrator of Rivers State had threatened to take legal action to recover the state funds from the NBA if they refused to reimburse them after deciding to move the conference out of the state. However, with the restoration of democratic institutions in Port Harcourt, the NBA has been able to return to the city without any issues.

The NBA's decision to hold its conference in Port Harcourt is significant not only for the association but also for the local economy. With over 23,000 lawyers expected to attend the conference, hundreds of billions of Naira will be injected into the local economy. The conference will also provide an opportunity for the people of Port Harcourt to showcase their culture and hospitality to visitors from across Nigeria. As Osigwe noted, the NBA's decision to return to Port Harcourt is a testament to the city's rich history and its importance in the annals of Nigerian history.

Lawyers should note that the NBA's decision to hold its 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt is not a compensation for the 2025 relocation, but rather a return to the city due to the restoration of democratic institutions.

Source: Original reporting via Nigerian Bar Association