Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has made a U-turn on his earlier comment describing Lagos as a “no-man’s land.”
Recall that the presidential aide made the remark, which has now sparked outrage on social media, on Wednesday during his appearance on Arise Television.
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Reacting to the criticism through his official X handle, Bwala acknowledged that Lagos State is both historically and constitutionally the territory of the Yoruba people.
The lawyer explained that his statement had been taken out of context.
He stressed that Lagos’s identity has “never been in contention” and must not be misrepresented, even though the state stands as Nigeria’s leading 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.”
Bwala went on to compare Lagos with international economic centres such as New York, Paris, and London, saying the city functions as both Nigeria’s commercial heartbeat and a cosmopolitan hub that accommodates people from across 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.
He added that his main submission on television was that any president who wants to succeed must intentionally channel investment into Lagos due to the significant social and economic responsibilities the state bears for 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.
Bwala’s clarification followed his initial statement on Arise Television, where he described Lagos as a “no-man’s land” and the pride of Nigeria’s economy.
Speaking on the Daybreak programme, he had argued that the heavy concentration of federal projects in Lagos should not be perceived as favouritism but as necessary investment in the country’s commercial centre.
He said, “Let me tell you why Lagos State is different. Lagos State is a no-man’s land. In the last election, the President who comes from the South-West did not win Lagos. That tells you the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos State.
“The richest man in Africa is a northerner. His business is not in Kano, it’s in Lagos. Almost every rich man that you know in Nigeria has business undertaking in Lagos and the Nigerian people are represented in Lagos.
“If not because probably the majority of the people are Yoruba speaking, you will wonder whether Lagos indeed is from the South-West.”
Drawing comparisons with global economic centres, Bwala added, “London has more investment than the entire states in England put together. New York has more infrastructure and investment than the rest of the United States, including California. Paris has more investment.
“So in every country, wherever you find the commercial nerve of that country, you are likely to see the need to put infrastructure in place in order to boost the economy. Whatever Lagos benefits, the country benefits.”
He insisted that the N3.9 trillion worth of federal projects reportedly allocated to Lagos in two years was justifiable, maintaining that the state remains Nigeria’s hub of commerce and a symbol of economic growth.