Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has described Lagos State as a “no-man’s land” and the pride of Nigeria’s economy. He made this statement during an interview on the Daybreak programme on Arise Television on Wednesday.
Bwala explained that the concentration of federal projects in Lagos should not be seen as favouritism but as necessary investment in Nigeria’s commercial hub. According to him, Lagos holds a unique place in the country’s economic landscape.
“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,” he said.
He further argued that the city attracts businesses from across the country. “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 international economic hubs, 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.”
Bwala defended the reported N3.9 trillion worth of federal projects allocated to Lagos in two years, saying it was justified because Lagos remained Nigeria’s hub of commerce and a beacon of economic growth.
“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,” he stated.