Daniel Bwala has retracted his “no-man’s land” remark, affirming Lagos as Yoruba land while highlighting its role as Nigeria’s commercial hub.
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has retracted his controversial description of Lagos as a “no-man’s land.” The remark, made during an interview on Arise Television’s Daybreak programme on Wednesday, sparked widespread outrage.
Responding to the backlash on X, Bwala admitted that Lagos is “culturally, historically, and constitutionally” the land of the Yoruba people. He said his earlier comments were misinterpreted, stressing that Lagos’s identity “has never been in contention” despite its status as Nigeria’s foremost commercial hub.
He explained, “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.”
Bwala compared Lagos to cities like New York and London, noting that while it remains a Yoruba homeland, its cosmopolitan nature gives every Nigerian equal opportunity. He clarified that federal investments in Lagos are justified because the state shoulders enormous economic responsibilities for Nigeria.