₦airaland Forum

Rivers State’s business landscape is facing a staggering financial blow fol­lowing the Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA) decision to relocate its 2025 An­nual General Conference (AGC) from Port Harcourt to Enugu.

The switch, prompted by the po­litical instability rocking the state, is estimated to cost the economy a jaw-dropping N2.6 billion.

The NBA cited the “absence of democratic governance” and the im­position of a state of emergency as reasons for the move.

Initially, Port Harcourt had been se­lected to host the six-day conference, which was expected to draw over 16,000 lawyers from across the country, an event that would have been a major economic boost for the state.

Now, hotel owners, transporters, restaurant operators, market trad­ers, and nightlife businesses are left licking their wounds. According to analysts, hotel bookings alone could have fetched N1.4 billion. Food vendors stood to rake in N576 million, nightlife activities were projected at N300 mil­lion, transportation at N62 million, and market vendors were looking at about N200 million. And that’s excluding the multiplier effect on other service pro­viders.

This economic setback follows Pres­ident Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s March 18, 2025, declaration of a state of emergen­cy in Rivers State, which led to the sus­pension of Governor Siminalayi Fuba­ra, his deputy Prof. Ngozi Odu, and all State Assembly members. Vice Admi­ral Ibok Ete Ekwe Ibas was appointed as the state’s sole administrator.

The NBA didn’t mince words, con­demning the appointment of a sole ad­ministrator to run the state—a move it said undermines the rule of law and tramples on democratic institutions. In an emergency meeting, the NBA’s National Executive Council main­tained that the president’s actions vi­olated Sections 305, 11, and 188 of the 1999 Constitution and that hosting the AGC in Port Harcourt under such conditions would amount to endorsing constitutional violations.

“Port Harcourt is no longer a jus­tifiable venue for the 2025 AGC,” the NBA said in a statement. “To hold our flagship event there would be a tacit ap­proval of unconstitutional governance and a breach of our core values.”

The association instead chose Enugu, a city it believes still operates within the bounds of constitutional democracy, as the new host for the conference, assuring its members of a successful and impactful event.

However, the NBA’s decision has triggered sharp criticism from the Minister of the Federal Capital Ter­ritory, Nyesom Wike, a key political player in Rivers State.

Wike accused the NBA of hypocri­sy and claimed their opposition to the emergency declaration was financially motivated, noting that Rivers State had earlier pledged to fund the conference.

Speaking during a visit from the Body of Benchers, Wike said: “What kind of hypocrisy is this?” He called on the Body of Benchers to rein in the NBA, accusing some of its members of hasty and public condemnation of court judgments they barely under­stand.

yarimo:
That was the reason rivers state government gave #300 millions to NBA to host it in Port Harcourt, since NBA decided to hold it in another state why can't they refund the money back to rivers state government?

helinues:
Cheap blackmailing . The Enugu which the conference was held, how much did they generate for the conference?

NBA should refund the N300m gift

Septigen:
The worst president of all time is Tinubu

authority2006:
And the Association of thieves still insist that they won't return the money

Bobloco:
Go to court

Septigen:
The worst president of all time is Tinubu