Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has withdrawn his controversial description of Lagos as a “no-man’s land,” a remark that drew widespread criticism following his appearance on Arise Television’s Daybreak programme on Wednesday.
In a clarification posted on his official X handle, Bwala acknowledged that Lagos is historically and constitutionally the land of the Yoruba people, stressing that its cultural and territorial identity has never been in doubt. He maintained that his earlier 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,” he wrote.
Bwala explained that his intent was to highlight Lagos’s unique dual role as both Nigeria’s foremost commercial hub and a cosmopolitan city that welcomes people from across the country. Drawing parallels with global cities such as New York, Paris, and London, he noted that Lagos remains the heartbeat of Nigeria’s economy while retaining its Yoruba heritage.
“What I emphasised 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,” he explained.
He added that his core argument was the need for massive federal investment in Lagos, given the enormous economic and social responsibilities it carries for the nation.
“Such support is not because Lagos is ‘no man’s land,’ but because it is the heartbeat of the nation’s development,” Bwala clarified.
During his initial Arise TV appearance, however, Bwala had described Lagos as both a “no-man’s land” and “the pride of Nigeria’s economy.” He argued that the concentration of federal projects in the state—amounting to N3.9 trillion in two years—should be seen as a strategic investment rather than bias, citing its pivotal role in commerce and national growth.
“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. The richest man in Africa is a northerner. His business is not in Kano, it’s in Lagos. Almost every rich man you know in Nigeria has a business undertaking in Lagos, and the Nigerian people are represented in Lagos,” he said during the broadcast.
He continued, “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 the hub of Nigeria. Lagos is the pride of the country.”
Bwala further likened the city’s significance to London, noting that “London has more investment than the entire states in England put together… So whatever Lagos benefits, the country benefits.”
