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Lagos is Nigeria’s economic lifeline, deserves massive investment — Bwala

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1 year ago

September 3, 2025

Lagos is Nigeria’s economic lifeline, deserves massive investment — Bwala Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, has defended the scale of federal investments in Lagos State, describing the city as the country’s commercial heartbeat and a national economic hub deserving of massive infrastructure support. The comments follow rising debate over alleged lopsided approval of federal projects across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones. On Sunday, the Federal Government dismissed such claims, releasing graphics that excluded Lagos from the South-West project allocations. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, explained that Lagos was “rightly upgraded as Nigeria’s commercial hub,” while noting that the North-West had received the highest share of project approvals. Appearing on Arise Television on Wednesday, Bwala stressed Lagos’ cosmopolitan status, arguing that the state’s political and commercial dynamics show it belongs to all Nigerians. “In the last election, the president who comes from the South-West did not win Lagos. That tells you the cosmopolitan nature of the state,” Bwala said. “Secondly, the richest man in Africa is a northerner, yet his business is not in Kano but in Lagos. Almost every wealthy Nigerian has major business undertakings in Lagos, and Nigerians from across the federation are represented there.” Bwala compared Lagos to global cities like London, New York, and Paris, emphasizing that the N3.9 trillion worth of federal projects reportedly allocated to the state over the past two years was justifiable. “So, the idea that you put more in Lagos than in other states should be put into context. Lagos is the hub of Nigeria. Lagos is the pride of the country,” he said. Bwala also sought to clarify his earlier remarks in which he had described Lagos as “a no-man’s land.” He noted that his intention was not to undermine Lagos’ Yoruba heritage but to highlight its inclusive and cosmopolitan character. “Culturally, historically, and constitutionally, Lagos belongs to the Yoruba people, and that has never been in contention,” Bwala said. “The unique identity of Lagos as a Yoruba homeland is settled and beyond dispute. What I emphasized was the special place Lagos occupies in Nigeria and indeed West Africa.” He added that Lagos provides “a level playing field for every Nigerian, regardless of origin, to thrive,” and argued that the state’s role as a national economic engine demands sustained federal support. “Any president who truly seeks to succeed must critically support Lagos, not because it is ‘no man’s land,’ but because it is the heartbeat of the nation’s development,” he concluded.

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, has defended the scale of federal investments in Lagos State, describing the city as the country’s commercial heartbeat and a national economic hub deserving of massive infrastructure support.

The comments follow rising debate over alleged lopsided approval of federal projects across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.

On Sunday, the Federal Government dismissed such claims, releasing graphics that excluded Lagos from the South-West project allocations.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, explained that Lagos was “rightly upgraded as Nigeria’s commercial hub,” while noting that the North-West had received the highest share of project approvals.

Appearing on Arise Television on Wednesday, Bwala stressed Lagos’ cosmopolitan status, arguing that the state’s political and commercial dynamics show it belongs to all Nigerians.

“In the last election, the president who comes from the South-West did not win Lagos. That tells you the cosmopolitan nature of the state,” Bwala said.

“Secondly, the richest man in Africa is a northerner, yet his business is not in Kano but in Lagos. Almost every wealthy Nigerian has major business undertakings in Lagos, and Nigerians from across the federation are represented there.”

Bwala compared Lagos to global cities like London, New York, and Paris, emphasizing that the N3.9 trillion worth of federal projects reportedly allocated to the state over the past two years was justifiable.

“So, the idea that you put more in Lagos than in other states should be put into context. Lagos is the hub of Nigeria. Lagos is the pride of the country,” he said.

Bwala also sought to clarify his earlier remarks in which he had described Lagos as “a no-man’s land.” He noted that his intention was not to undermine Lagos’ Yoruba heritage but to highlight its inclusive and cosmopolitan character.

“Culturally, historically, and constitutionally, Lagos belongs to the Yoruba people, and that has never been in contention,” Bwala said. “The unique identity of Lagos as a Yoruba homeland is settled and beyond dispute. What I emphasized was the special place Lagos occupies in Nigeria and indeed West Africa.”

He added that Lagos provides “a level playing field for every Nigerian, regardless of origin, to thrive,” and argued that the state’s role as a national economic engine demands sustained federal support.

“Any president who truly seeks to succeed must critically support Lagos, not because it is ‘no man’s land,’ but because it is the heartbeat of the nation’s development,” he concluded.