Lagos is a no-man’s land, says Bwala, defends FG’s investment

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has described Lagos State as a “no-man’s land” and the pride of Nigeria’s economy.

Speaking on the Daybreak programme on Arise Television on Wednesday, Bwala argued that the concentration of federal projects in Lagos should not be viewed as favouritism, but rather as an investment in the nation’s commercial 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.

Bwala noted that Nigeria’s wealthiest individuals, regardless of their regions of origin, conduct their businesses in Lagos, stressing that the state represents the diversity of the country.

He added, “The richest man in Africa is a northerner. His business is not in Kano, it’s in Lagos. Almost every rich man you know in Nigeria has business undertakings in Lagos, and the Nigerian people are represented there. If not because the majority of the people are Yoruba-speaking, you would wonder whether Lagos indeed is from the South-West.”

Drawing comparisons with other global financial centres, Bwala argued that it is common for governments to channel investments into their economic hubs.

“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.

So in every country, wherever you find the commercial nerve of that country, you are likely to see the need to put infrastructure in place to boost the economy. Whatever Lagos benefits, the country benefits,” he stated.