The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has walked back on his statement that Lagos is “no-man’s land”.
While appearing on Arise Television on Wednesday, September 3, Daniel Bwala described Lagos State as “a no-man’s land” and the pride of Nigeria’s economy. He emphasised that the concentration of federal projects in Lagos should not be viewed as favouritism but as strategic investment in the country’s commercial hub (read here).
His statement led to backlash and he took to his official X handle to address the uproar.
Bwala said that his words were misinterpreted.
He said the ownership of Lagos has “never been in contention” and should not be distorted, even though the state remains Nigeria’s foremost commercial hub.
He said, “Don’t misinterpret what I said in my interview this morning. Culturally, historically, and constitutionally, Lagos belongs to the Yoruba people, and that has never been in contention. The unique identity of Lagos as a Yoruba homeland is settled and beyond dispute.”
Explaining his position further, Bwala likened Lagos to global economic powerhouses such as New York, Paris, and London, noting that the city plays a dual role as Nigeria’s commercial heartbeat and a cosmopolitan hub that welcomes citizens from every part of the country.
“What I emphasised was the special place Lagos occupies in Nigeria and indeed West Africa, a city that, much like New York, Paris, or London, serves as the commercial nerve centre of our economy.
“Lagos provides every Nigerian, regardless of origin, a level playing field to thrive, and in this sense, it mirrors the diversity of our nation while remaining firmly rooted in Yoruba heritage.
“My argument was, therefore, and justifiably so, for massive investments in infrastructure to sustain the economic and social responsibilities Lagos has shouldered on behalf of Nigeria,” he stated.
According to him, his central argument on television was that any president who hopes to succeed must deliberately invest in Lagos because of the enormous social and economic responsibilities it shoulders on behalf of Nigeria.
“Such support is not because Lagos is ‘no man’s land,’ but because it is the heartbeat of the nation’s development,” he clarified.
