Nigerian Bar Association has said its decision to hold its 2026 Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is not compensation for the relocation of its 2025 conference to Enugu State.
Afam Osigwe, SAN, stated this on Tuesday during a media briefing organised by the Local Organising Committee of the 66th NBA Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt.
The conference, themed “Beyond Limits,” is scheduled to hold from August 21 to 28 at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt.
NBA had relocated its 2025 annual conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu following the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the appointment of an administrator by the Federal Government.
Osigwe said the NBA had made it clear at the time that it would return to Rivers State once democratic governance was restored.
He explained that the association’s return should therefore not be interpreted as compensation or restitution.
“We left Port Harcourt because we said the declaration of state of emergency on Port Harcourt and the appointment of a Sole Administrator was unconstitutional.
“And we stated that if normalcy and democracy return to Port Harcourt, we’ll come back. It’s not compensatory.
“So, we’re back here because a democratically elected governor is back in place, and the circumstances are such that we believe meets the constitutional muster for NBA to operate under a climate of constitutionalism and come back to hold its conference,” he said.
He added that the conference would provide a significant economic boost to Rivers State, with more than 23,000 lawyers expected to converge on Port Harcourt alongside service providers, contractors and other businesses.
Osigwe went further to say that, the influx of participants would lead to substantial spending in the local economy, noting that cities around the world often compete to host major conferences because of their economic benefits.
The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Tonye Krukrubo, SAN, said more than 24,000 legal practitioners from Nigeria and abroad were expected to attend the conference.
According to him, the conference would provide a platform for lawyers to deliberate on pressing legal issues affecting Nigeria, Africa and the wider world.
Osigwe, while speaking on the theme, “Beyond Limits,” said Nigeria must move beyond its current limitations and harness its vast natural and human resources to achieve its full potential.
Activities for the conference will commence with a Jumat service on Friday, August 21, followed by a health walk on Saturday, August 22.
The event will culminate in the inauguration of the NBA’s new national executive led by its 33rd President, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, who emerged from the association’s July 2026 election.
