RismadarVoice Reporters, June 4, 2026
President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has declared that sustainable development in the Niger Delta and across Nigeria cannot be achieved without a strong commitment to the rule of law.
Speaking at the NDDC Law and Development Summit 2026 in Port Harcourt, Osigwe said development efforts driven solely by infrastructure, technology, and financial resources would be unsustainable without legal frameworks that guarantee justice, accountability, transparency, and public trust.
The NBA President noted that while many view development through the lenses of funding, planning, and engineering, the law remains the foundation upon which successful societies, stable institutions, and thriving economies are built.
According to him, the rule of law provides the structure within which development is conceived, implemented, protected, and sustained, while also creating certainty for investors, safeguarding rights, enforcing obligations, and promoting confidence among citizens and development partners.
He described law as the most important pillar of democratic governance, stressing that it ensures accountability, separation of powers, checks and balances, and adherence to the principles of democracy.
Osigwe further urged policymakers and stakeholders to ensure that legal and regulatory frameworks move beyond mere documentation to become effective tools for equity, inclusion, prosperity, remediation, and sustainable growth.
He expressed optimism that deliberations at the summit would strengthen efforts toward a more law-driven approach to development in the Niger Delta, adding that the success of the engagement would be measured by the implementation of practical solutions that positively impact the lives of the people.
The summit brought together legal practitioners, judicial officers, policymakers, development experts, academics, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to examine the role of law and governance in advancing sustainable development across the Niger Delta region.
