ABUJA, Nigeria — Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has described Lagos as a “no-man’s land” and defended the concentration of federal projects in the state, calling it Nigeria’s commercial lifeline.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Daybreak programme on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, Bwala argued that investment in Lagos should not be interpreted as favouritism toward the president’s home state but rather as essential spending in the nation’s economic hub.
“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,” he said.
“The richest man in Africa is a northerner. His business is not in Kano, it’s in Lagos. Almost every rich man that you know in Nigeria has business undertaking in Lagos and the Nigerian people are represented in Lagos. If not because probably the majority of the people are Yoruba speaking, you will wonder whether Lagos indeed is from the South-West.”
Bwala likened Lagos to global financial centres that attract disproportionate infrastructure and investment compared to other regions.
“London has more investment than the entire states in England put together. New York has more infrastructure and investment than the rest of the United States, including California. Paris has more investment,” he said.
He added that “in every country, wherever you find the commercial nerve of that country, you are likely to see the need to put infrastructure in place in order to boost the economy. Whatever Lagos benefits, the country benefits.”
Responding to reports that Lagos had attracted ₦3.9 trillion worth of federal projects in the past two years, Bwala said the level of funding was justified.
“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 a no-man’s land. Lagos is the hub of Nigeria. Lagos is the pride of the country,” he stated.
