Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser on Policy Communication toPresident Bola Tinubu, ignited widespread criticism following his remarks on Arise TV, where he described Lagos as a “no man’s land.” This controversial statement was made in the context of defending the Tinubu administration’s allocation of a staggering N2.9 trillion worth of federal projects to Lagos State over two years, a sum that critics questioned for being disproportionately larger than allocations to other states and theFederal Capital Territory.

In his initial defense, Mr. Bwala asserted that Lagos, being the commercial nerve center of the nation and a “no-man’s land,” would naturally attract more investment. He pointed to the cosmopolitan nature of the state, noting that President Tinubu, despite hailing from the South-west, did not win Lagos in the last election, and that almost every wealthy Nigerian conducts business there. He even suggested that one might wonder if Lagos truly belongs to the South-west were it not for the majority Yoruba-speaking population.

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Following the significant backlash, Mr. Bwala took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify his position, insisting his words were “misinterpreted” and taken out of context. He explained that his statement was not intended to erase the cultural identity of Lagos but rather to emphasize its unique cosmopolitan character, which sets it apart from other Nigerian states. He highlighted Lagos’s role as a commercial hub that welcomes Nigerians from across the country, providing a level playing field for all, regardless of origin.

He unequivocally reaffirmed 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 stated that Lagos mirrors the diversity of the nation while remaining firmly rooted in its Yoruba heritage.

Furthermore, Bwala compared Lagos to global metropolitan hubs such as New York, Paris, and London, arguing that its status as Nigeria’s economic heartbeat necessitates massive and continuous investments in infrastructure. He stressed that any president aiming for success must critically support Lagos, not because it is a “no man’s land,” but because it is vital to the nation’s development. He reasoned that in every country, areas of intense commercial activity require significant infrastructure to boost the economy, citing examples where cities like London, New York, and Paris receive more investment than other regions in their respective nations.

The phrase “no man’s land” itself has historically been a source of contention, often interpreted as an attempt to deny Lagos’s indigenous Awori and Yoruba heritage, while others view it as a reflection of the city’s openness to diverse communities. Bwala, however, also asserted that “Lagos is the hub of Nigeria. Lagos is the pride of the country. Lagos is the beacon of economic growth of the country. Whatever Lagos benefits, benefits the nation as a whole.”

In a related but distinct controversy, a review of infrastructure progress data released by the Bola Tinubu administration, titled “Infrastructure Equity for Every Region. Progress for Every Nigerian. The Renewed Hope Agenda in Action,” revealed alleged misrepresentations. SaharaReporters’ analysis indicated that projects intended for other regions were listed under North-Western states, leading to padded numbers.

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For instance, the 110kmDamaturu–Maiduguri road, located in Yobe and Borno States (both in the North-East), was listed under North-Western projects. Similarly, the Bama and Dikwa roads, both in Borno State, and the Lokoja–Okene road dualisation (Kogi State, North-Central), along with the Benue–9th Mile road (North-Central), were erroneously categorized as North-Western projects. Further scrutiny showed that some of these misclassified projects were also correctly listed under their actual regions, resulting in double entries in the report.

This alleged misrepresentation follows earlier accusations of regional bias against the Tinubu administration, notably bySenator Ali Ndume regarding appointments. The Presidency had previously defended its stance, asserting that President Tinubu’s appointments would continue to be based on “merit, integrity, geographical spread, and demonstrable capacity to serve the Nigerian people.”