Bwala: Lagos is no man’s land… FG projects in state justified

Daniel Bwala, special adviser to the president on policy communication, says Lagos state occupies a special place in Nigeria’s economic life and deserves massive federal investment.

On Sunday, the federal government rejected claims that approval for infrastructure projects to the geopolitical regions have been lopsided.

In graphics shared by the government, Lagos was excluded from south-west states, with Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, explaining that “Lagos is rightly upgraded as Nigeria’s commercial hub, but the Northwest holds the lion’s share of approvals”.

Speaking on Arise Television on Wednesday, Bwala described Lagos as “a no-man’s land” given its cosmopolitan nature.

He argued that the state’s political and commercial dynamics show that it belongs to all Nigerians.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

Bwala added that Lagos compares with cities like London, New York, and Paris.

He said the N3.9 trillion worth of federal projects reportedly allocated to Lagos 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,” he said.

‘CLARIFICATION’

Bwala’s “no man’s land” remark sparked debates on social media.

Reacting to the blowback, the presidential aide issued a statement on X to say  he did not question Lagos’ Yoruba identity.

“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 said.

“What I emphasized 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.”