The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has retracted his controversial description of Lagos as a “no-man’s land,” a comment that triggered widespread condemnation after his Wednesday appearance on Arise Television.
Bwala, who responded to the reaction on his official X Twitter, agreed that Lagos State is historically and constitutionally the Yoruba territory.
The legal practitioner also emphasized that his statements had been misconstrued.
According to him, Lagos’ identity has “never been in contention” and should not be twisted, despite the fact that the state is still 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 explained his views further, comparing Lagos to global economic powerhouses such as New York, Paris, and London, stating that the city serves as both Nigeria’s commercial heartbeat and a cosmopolitan hub that invites individuals from all across the country.
“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 center 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 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.
Bwala had previously sparked controversy during an appearance on Arise Television’s Daybreak program on Wednesday, when he labeled Lagos as a “no-man’s land” and “the pride of Nigeria’s economy.”
He contended that the preponderance of federal projects in Lagos should not be interpreted as favoritism but rather as investment in the country’s commercial capital.
“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 southwest, 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 a 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.”
Bwala stated that the N3.9 trillion in government projects purportedly earmarked for Lagos over the next two years was reasonable, emphasizing that Lagos remained Nigeria’s commercial capital and a beacon of economic development.
“So the idea that you put more in Lagos than in other states or the federation should be put into a proper context. Lagos is a no-man’s land. Lagos is the hub of Nigeria. Lagos is the pride of the country,” Bwala added.
Earlier on Wednesday, Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to Tinubu on Policy Communication, described Lagos State as “a no-man’s land” and the pride of Nigeria’s economy in an interview with Arise Television’s Daybreak program.
He emphasized that the concentration of federal projects in Lagos should not be interpreted as favoritism but rather as strategic investment in the country’s commercial capital.
“Lagos is the hub of Nigeria. Lagos is the pride of the country,” Bwala stated, highlighting its cosmopolitan nature and vital role in national commerce.
He contrasted Lagos to global economic centers, saying that London had more investment than all of England’s states combined. So whatever Lagos gains, the country gains.
Bwala argued that the N3.9 trillion in federal projects granted to Lagos over two years are justified since they help the country’s economy flourish.
