Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, initially sparked controversy with his remarks regarding Lagos State, specifically describing it as a “no-man’s land” while defending the allocation of N2.9 to N3.9 trillion worth of federal projects to the state within two years. His initial statements, made during interviews, argued that such significant investments were strategic for Nigeria’s commercial hub. Bwala pointed to Lagos’s cosmopolitan nature, citing that President Tinubu, despite being from the South-West, did not win the state in the last election, and highlighted the presence of prominent businessmen, including Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, whose businesses are predominantly in Lagos.

In his initial defense, Bwala drew parallels between Lagos and global economic powerhouses such as New York, London, and Paris, where a concentration of infrastructure and investment in commercial centers is common. He asserted that whatever benefits Lagos ultimately benefits the entire country, positioning the state as the economic pride and heartbeat of Nigeria’s commerce and infrastructure development. He stated that “Lagos is a no-man’s land. Lagos is the hub of Nigeria. Lagos is the pride of the country,” emphasizing its diverse economic base and its role as a home for people from all parts of the nation.

However, Bwala later recanted and clarified his earlier comment following public backlash. He took to his official X handle and appeared on television to address the uproar, asserting that his words were misinterpreted. He explicitly stated that “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 further explained that his emphasis was on the unique, cosmopolitan character of Lagos, which, like New York, Paris, or London, serves as a crucial commercial nerve center for Nigeria and West Africa. He clarified that Lagos provides a level playing field for all Nigerians, regardless of their origin, reflecting the nation's diversity while remaining firmly rooted in its Yoruba heritage. His argument, therefore, was for massive and justifiable investments in infrastructure to support the immense economic and social responsibilities that Lagos shoulders on behalf of Nigeria, clarifying that such support is not because Lagos is “no man’s land,” but because it is the heartbeat of the nation’s development.

Daniel Bwala, who previously served as a spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar during the 2023 presidential election before joining President Bola Tinubu’s administration as a special adviser on policy communication in 2024, maintained that any president aiming for success must critically support Lagos.