The Presidency has on Wednesday reignited the controversies over Lagos State’s ownership as it declared the Nigeria’s commercial capital a no man’s land.
Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, made the declaration while speaking on Arise TV’s Daybreak programme on Wednesday.
In defense of his claim, Bwala cited President Bola Tinubu’s defeat in Lagos during the 2023 Presidential election, stressing that the state is cosmopolitan.
He also noted the rate of investments in the state by non-indigenes which further put the ownership claims by Lagos indiegenes to question.
“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.
“Secondly, the richest man in Africa is northerner. His business is not in Kano. It is in Lagos. Almost every rich man that you know in Nigeria has business undertaken in Lagos.
“And the Nigerian people are represented in Lagos. If not because probably majority of the people are Yoruba-speaking, you will wonder whether Lagos indeed is in the southwest.” He said.
However, Bwala appeared to have made the remark while explaining reason behind the Federal Government’s concentration on the state in terms of infrastructural development.
He maintained that Lagos, like every other country’s commercial nerve, needs adequate infrastructure to boost the economy of the country.
“London has more investments than the entire states in England put together.
“New York has infrastructures and more investments more than the rest of the states in the United States- including California. Paris has more investments than anywhere.
“In every country, whereever you find the commerical nerve of that country, you are likely to see the need to put infrastructure in place in order to boost the economy of that country.” Bwala said.
However, as against the Presidency’s intention, the statement had triggered another round of mixed reactions from netizens on X with some defending the statement while others faulted the claim.
“Lagos has only one language and that language is YORUBA. Lagos deserve every infrastructure cos she contributed more to the federation and besides, Lagos accommodate almost every region so, whatever is given to Lagos is for everyone . One more thing sir, connecting every states to Lagos will boost their economy . LAGOS IS NOT NO MAN’s LAND OR, it’s YORUBA SPEAKING PEOPLE LAND. Anyone born in Lagos will automatically understand Yoruba.” @hmbventuress
“When they wanna justify the rubbish funding, they claim Lagos is no man’s land, same thing they attacked Igbos for claiming Igbos want to claim their land. God forbid APC.”@FranciscoBrainy
“You are wrong, because Lagos State is generating the resources and it deserves some portion of it.”@tajudine2013gm2
“Saying investments are high in Lagos because it’s a no man land, show how we have poor economic thoughts”@AdakoleOla
“Bwala be careful o. The ronu rascals will come for you.”@thewahalaboys
“If na Igboman talk am now, it would be hard on, knee jerk reactions from mad people. A country of cornfused citizens who do not know when to think.”@DoItRight4Naija
“You have started this again ” Lagos is no man land” just to defend your point. After 2023 election we were told that Lagos is a Yoruba state, a South West State and own by the indigents. You need to do better”@ubiwara
“Watching Dr Daniel Bwala on Arise News ? I don’t know the mindset, and the understanding behind this statement “Lagos is a no man’s land” I just imagined what this space would be right now if Dr Bwala was an Igbo man.”@cshallow4flow
“Nigeria govt Tinubu and other politicians knows that lagos state is a no man’s land but they kept on deceiving the Yoruba’s cus of politics…I wish them well oo…by the time a good and sincere govt will come in and delay it openly before the Yoruba’s will get sense..”@chkwulee4real
“Even if the purpose of that statement is to sway Nigerians from the topic. It’s still a nonsensical statement to make. A state that contributes more deserves more. Lagos is the indigenous land of the Yoruba people. Lagos is doing you a favour & not the other way around.”@MrTobiCodes
“Lagos can’t be no man’s land there Notable past Obas include Oba Kosoko, who reigned during a period of conflict and British intervention, and Oba Dosunmu, who signed a treaty with the British that led to the cession of Lagos. Others include Oba Oyekan I, they r all Yorubas.”daley_daly
“Coming from a Special Adviser to the President that LAGOS is a ‘No Man’s Land’ now no one is saying anything. If it were to be someone from the opposition especially Peter Obi, this country for don dey catch fire”@omooba_aji
