Daniel Bwala, special adviser to the president on policy communication, has defended federal investment in Lagos, describing the state as “a no-man’s land,” central to Nigeria’s economy and development.
The federal government on Sunday dismissed claims of lopsided infrastructure approvals across geopolitical regions, noting that Lagos was excluded from the southwest list in its published breakdown.
Speaking on Arise Television on Wednesday, Bwala stressed Lagos’ unique status, saying: “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. Secondly, the richest man in Africa is a northerner and his business is not in Kano but in Lagos. Almost every rich man you know in Nigeria has business undertakings in Lagos, and the Nigerian people are represented there.”
He argued that Lagos’ political and commercial structure reflects its national character, likening the city to global hubs.
“Lagos compares with cities like London, New York, and Paris,” he said, adding that the reported N3.9 trillion worth of federal projects allocated to the state in two years is justifiable.
“So the idea that you put more in Lagos than in other states of the federation should be put into a proper context. Lagos is the hub of Nigeria. Lagos is the pride of the country.”
Bwala’s description of Lagos as “a no-man’s land” quickly stirred debate on social media.
Clarifying his comments in a statement on X, he wrote: “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.”
He explained further: “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. Any President who truly seeks to succeed must critically support Lagos, not because it is ‘no man’s land,’ but because it is the heartbeat of the nation’s development.”
