Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has clarified his recent statement about Lagos being a “no-man’s land”.
He emphasized that Lagos belongs to the Yoruba people culturally, historically, and constitutionally. Bwala made this clarification after facing backlash for his initial comments.
Bwala acknowledged that Lagos’s unique identity as a Yoruba homeland is settled and beyond dispute.
He compared Lagos to global economic centers like New York, Paris, and London, highlighting its role as Nigeria’s commercial nerve center.
Bwala argued that massive investments in Lagos’s infrastructure are necessary to sustain its economic and social responsibilities for Nigeria.
He emphasized that Lagos provides a level playing field for every Nigerian to thrive, reflecting the nation’s diversity while rooted in Yoruba heritage.
Bwala’s initial statement sparked controversy, with some Nigerians criticizing his description of Lagos as a “no-man’s land”.
In response, he explained that his words were taken out of context and that his intention was to highlight Lagos’s importance to Nigeria’s economy.
Lagos State is predominantly inhabited by the Yoruba ethnic group. The indigenous people of Lagos are the Awori and Ilaje subgroups of the Yoruba tribe.
However, it’s worth noting that Lagos is a cosmopolitan city, home to people from all over Nigeria and beyond, with over 250 ethnic groups represented
Over 21 million people, making it one of the largest cities in Africa
A melting pot of diverse ethnic groups, with a rich cultural heritage originally a small fishing village, Lagos has grown into a vast metropolis
Charly Boy, a popular Nigerian entertainer, has made a statement contradicting the idea that Lagos belongs to a single tribe, saying “Lagos is No man’s land,” likening it to New York City, a place with people from different ethnic groups.
