LAGOS/Nigeria: The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, has expressed deep concern over the worsening state of insecurity and governance challenges in Nigeria, declaring that the country’s current realities demand bold thinking and a departure from old approaches that have failed to deliver sustainable solutions.
The position was articulated on Friday as the branch unveiled activities for its 2026 Law Week, with organisers saying the annual event would serve as a platform for critical national conversations aimed at addressing pressing issues affecting the country.
Speaking during a press briefing at the branch secretariat in Lagos, Chairman of the 2026 Law Week Organising Committee, Chukwudi Enebeli (SAN), said the theme of the celebration, “Altering The Status Quo: Going Against The Norm,” was carefully chosen to reflect growing concerns over the nation’s security, economic and governance challenges.
According to him, Nigerians can no longer afford to accept the present situation as normal, noting that the country appears to be moving in the wrong direction despite years of democratic governance.
Enebeli said insecurity has become one of the greatest threats confronting the nation, recalling that there was a time when citizens could travel freely across the country without fear, unlike the prevailing situation where many roads have become unsafe.
He stressed that Nigerians must begin to ask hard questions about the effectiveness of existing systems and institutions, insisting that the status quo has failed to deliver the desired outcomes.
“We have to ask ourselves what exactly is the status quo. Has it paid us over time and how do we change it? That is the driving force behind this year’s theme,” he said.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria warned that unless urgent steps are taken to address insecurity and other national challenges, future generations may inherit a nation worse than the present one.
“We have seen insecurity take over our country. A few years ago, people could travel from Lagos to Kaduna without fear or apprehension, but that is no longer the case. We must begin to think seriously about solutions because if these problems are not resolved, there may be no nation left for the next generation,” he added.
Enebeli announced that activities for the week commenced with a Jumat prayer held on Friday at the mosque along Old Secretariat Road, Ikeja GRA.
He disclosed that a health walk and charity match would take place on Saturday, while a church service and Father’s Day thanksgiving are scheduled for Sunday at the branch secretariat.
According to him, a cocktail event will hold on Monday evening, while Tuesday will feature lecture sessions focusing on governance, leadership and professional development.
The morning session, titled “Law, Leadership and Ballot: Government Beyond Politics,” will examine the role of leadership and democratic institutions in national development, while the afternoon session, “The Grind Before The Glory For Young Lawyers,” will focus on career growth and professional excellence.
Former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, is expected to deliver the keynote address during the event.
On Wednesday, attention will shift to the economy with a Business Forum themed “Accelerating the Future of the Nigerian Economy,” expected to feature the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, among other distinguished speakers.
The programme will continue on Thursday with a Bar and Bench Session themed “What Is Expected on the Other Side of the Coin,” bringing together judges and legal practitioners to discuss issues affecting the administration of justice. The day’s activities will culminate in the Chairman’s Dinner.
The week-long event will climax on Friday with the Aka-Bashorun Memorial Lecture titled “2027: Building A Nation Where No Man Is Oppressed,” a discourse expected to focus on democracy, justice, human rights and nation-building ahead of the next general elections.
Also speaking at the briefing, Chairman of the NBA Ikeja Branch, Mr. Quadri Adeniyi, questioned what he described as the government’s inability to tackle insecurity with the same determination deployed in prosecuting treason-related offences.
Adeniyi lamented the growing menace of banditry, kidnapping and violent attacks on farmers, saying insecurity has contributed significantly to rising food prices and economic hardship across the country.
He noted that many farmers have been forced to abandon their farmlands for fear of attacks, warning that the situation poses a serious threat to food security and national stability.
According to him, kidnapping has evolved into a thriving criminal enterprise that requires urgent and decisive government intervention.
