The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has clarified his earlier controversial remarks describing Lagos as a “no-man’s land,” a statement that sparked widespread criticism following his Wednesday appearance on Arise Television.
In a post on his official X account, Bwala acknowledged that Lagos State is historically and constitutionally the land of the Yoruba people and said his comments had been misinterpreted.
“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.
He further likened Lagos to global economic hubs such as New York, Paris, and London, emphasizing the city’s dual role as Nigeria’s commercial heartbeat and a cosmopolitan center that welcomes citizens from across the country.
“What I emphasized was the special place Lagos occupies in Nigeria and 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, while remaining firmly rooted in Yoruba heritage,” he said.
Bwala added that his main argument was that any president who hopes to succeed must strategically invest in Lagos due to the city’s enormous social and economic responsibilities. “Such support is not because Lagos is ‘no-man’s land,’ but because it is the heartbeat of the nation’s development,” he clarified.
During the Arise Television interview, Bwala had initially described Lagos as a “no-man’s land” and “the pride of Nigeria’s economy,” noting the concentration of federal projects in the state. He stressed that the allocation of N3.9 trillion in federal projects over two years was justified, highlighting Lagos’s central role in commerce and economic growth.
He explained, “Lagos is the hub of Nigeria. Lagos is the pride of the country. The idea that you put more in Lagos than in other states should be put into proper context. Lagos is cosmopolitan, representing people from every part of Nigeria, and serves as a critical engine for national development.”
Bwala compared Lagos to major global cities, saying, “London has more investment than the entire states in England put together. Whatever Lagos benefits, the country benefits.”
His clarification comes amid public backlash and debate over the language he used, emphasizing that his remarks were meant to highlight Lagos’s economic significance rather than undermine its Yoruba heritage.
