From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The influx of about 20,000 lawyers into Enugu, the capital of Enugu State, for the 2025 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference, between August 24 and 28, has left a significant mark on the city’s economy, with food vendors, hoteliers, transporters and traders recording unprecedented gains.
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From the bustling food stalls outside the conference venue to the packed hotels across the metropolis, residents said the week-long gathering was more than just a professional event, it was an economic windfall for residents.
For Amarachi Agiriga, a food vendor, who set up shop at the venue, the experience has been life-changing. “One of my friends told me about this conference and we made enquiries. That was how I got an allocation for this spot. It was quite expensive but business has been good. I have already made the amount I spent,” she said.
Agiriga, who specialises in Igbo and South-South delicacies, added that the patronage was overwhelming. “The number of people here is something I have not seen before. The customers, even those who are not from this side, love the food. I made close to N500,000 every day,” she disclosed.
Her experience mirrors that of other food sellers. Chibuikem Esonye, who ran a grilled fish and meat stand, noted that the event was a blessing. “As you can see, what we do here is basically grilled fish and meat.
“Business has been good. I am making some money but it’s not something I want to say to the public. The only thing is that we should be having more of something like this. The conference is good,” he said.
Similarly, Ada Ezike, a roasted plantain and beans seller, described her sales during the conference as the best she has ever recorded. “I am making the highest sales since I started this business. The truth is that I did not know it would be like this at first.
“I thought my husband, who paid for this spot, had wasted our money. But everything I prepared for the first day, that was on Monday, finished before 11 a.m. I was almost crying,” she recounted.
By the second day, Ezike adjusted, but demand still outstripped supply. “It still finished before 3 p.m. In fact, I will go to church on Sunday to thank God for this opportunity. I am begging our governor to bring them back again next year,” she pleaded.
Beyond the food sector, the conference lifted other small businesses. Adaku Eze, a petty trader, said the event changed her family’s fortunes in just a few days.
“I have never seen anything like this in my life. I sold everything I brought and still had people begging me for more. If Governor Mbah can make this conference permanent, we the ordinary people will never forget him,” she said.
Transporters also had their fair share of the boom. Tricyclist Mohammed Gambo said the lawyers were generous and willing to pay good fares.
“Truly, I have made money from these people. I took one lawyer from there to Trans Ekulu and he paid me N5,000. They don’t haggle over fares,” he said
Another tricycle rider, Uche Ani, insisted they did not exploit the visitors. “My brother, it has been going well. We did not increase what we charge them at all. It’s still the same thing. The only difference is that they don’t bargain too much.
“They are more considerate than our people here. You know fuel is costly and we also have families to feed. So, I believe that is why they pay us well. I like this conference. The only thing is that MOT is blocking everywhere so it is difficult to drop them and come back quickly. But we are all happy,” he explained.
For bus driver Ekene Anike, the conference brought an unusual sense of relief. “Transport business has been moving well since these lawyers came. We carry them and they don’t argue about price. Governor Mbah should do everything possible to make sure they return every year. It is good for us and good for Enugu,” he said.
Even vulcanisers, often overlooked in economic conversations, felt the difference. Chika Onoja, who repairs tyres along Independence Layout, said he had more work than he could handle.
“From morning till night I had work because of the movement. Even lawyers were bringing their cars to me. This kind of programme should be made to stay here permanently. It puts food on our tables,” he explained.
Petty traders also benefited, despite challenges from security operatives. Ann Ozioko, who sells sachet water, bottled water and snacks with her children, said business has been brisk.
“Market is going well. It is just that the security people have been chasing us around. But there is nothing I can do. I have been moving from one place to another with my daughter who is helping me.
“My son is also helping to supply the water. We sell a sachet of water for N50. One bottled water is N500. Our eggroll is between N500 and N1,000 depending on the size. I thank God this is happening when my children are on holidays,” she said.
The hospitality sector perhaps recorded the most dramatic impact, with hotel rooms in Enugu and even in surrounding areas fully booked. A hotel manager, who did not want his name in print confirmed that prices skyrocketed.
“Yes, that is true. For instance, I am the manager here. We were giving out our smallest rooms for N7,000 but someone told me about this conference and we took it up to N15,000. In fact, we gave out the last three rooms for N25,000.
“We have about 68 rooms here and we are all booked. We gave out some of the rooms that used to be N20,000 and N28,000 for N50,000. It is the same for every other hotel. I tell you that you cannot get an empty room in any hotel in Enugu as we speak.
“I am not just referring to rooms in Enugu main town. There is no space even in Abakpa, Trans Ekulu, Emene, Thinkers Corner down to Gariki,” he explained.
Airfares also surged as demand for flights to and from Enugu soared. A source at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport revealed: “By Tuesday, flights from Enugu to Lagos and Abuja were going for between N300,000 and N360,000, instead of the usual N140,000 to N180,000. That tells you everything about how much demand this conference created,” the source said.
Runs girls also had a swell time. They were many “clients” to hook up with. Of course, they increased their service charge.
Indeed, for many Enugu residents, the 2025 NBA conference was more than just a legal summit, it was proof that cultural, professional and business tourism can transform livelihoods.
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