Bwala Daniel, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has clarified his statement on Lagos after his earlier interview sparked reactions.
Recall that Bwala called Lagos a “No-Man’s Land”.
In a message today, September 3, 2025, Bwala stressed that his words had been misinterpreted. He said, “Don’t misinterpret what I said in my interview of 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 that his comments were meant to highlight the special role Lagos plays in Nigeria’s economy and in West Africa.
According to him, “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.”
Bwala noted that his call was for more government attention and increased investment in Lagos. He stated, “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 added that for any administration to succeed, supporting Lagos was key. “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.”