Daniel Bwala Explains Lagos’ No-Man’s Land Comments, Calls State Yoruba Homeland

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has clarified and walked back his earlier controversial remarks describing Lagos as a “no-man’s land,” a comment that sparked widespread criticism following his appearance on Arise Television’s Daybreak programme on Wednesday.

Addressing the backlash on his official X account, Bwala acknowledged that Lagos is historically, culturally, and constitutionally the land of the Yoruba people. He said his earlier comments were misinterpreted and stressed that the state’s unique Yoruba identity is “settled and beyond dispute,” even as it serves as Nigeria’s foremost commercial hub.

“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 wrote.

He explained that his main point was to highlight Lagos’s dual role as Nigeria’s commercial heartbeat and a cosmopolitan hub that welcomes citizens from all over the country, comparing it to global economic centres such as New York, Paris, and London.

“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 said.

Bwala added that his comments were intended to advocate for increased investment in Lagos to sustain the economic and social responsibilities it shoulders on behalf of the nation.

“My argument was, therefore, and justifiably so, for massive investments in infrastructure to support Lagos’s role in the country. 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 earlier interview, Bwala had referred to Lagos as a “no-man’s land” to illustrate its cosmopolitan nature, noting that the concentration of federal projects in the state should be seen as strategic investment rather than favoritism. He had said:

“Lagos State is a no-man’s land. The richest man in Africa is a northerner. His business is not in Kano; it’s in Lagos. Almost every wealthy Nigerian has a business in Lagos, and the Nigerian people are represented here. Lagos is the hub of Nigeria. Lagos is the pride of the country.”

He also defended the N3.9 trillion worth of federal projects allocated to Lagos over two years, emphasizing that the investments are justified given the city’s central role in national commerce and economic growth.

In his clarification, Bwala sought to reconcile his earlier remarks with the historical and cultural identity of Lagos, underscoring that the state’s Yoruba heritage remains intact while also acknowledging its role as a cosmopolitan and economic powerhouse.