The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has defended the heavy allocation of federal projects to Lagos State, describing it as a “no-man’s land” and Nigeria’s economic heart.
Speaking on Arise News on Wednesday, September 3, Bwala said the N3.9 trillion worth of federal projects reportedly directed to Lagos over the past two years should not be viewed as favoritism, but as a strategic investment in the country’s commercial hub.
“Lagos State is unique. In the last election, the President, who is from the South-West, did not win Lagos, showing the cosmopolitan nature of the state,” Bwala noted.
He emphasized Lagos’s diverse economy and its role as a magnet for business and talent from across Nigeria. “The richest man in Africa is a northerner, and his business is in Lagos, not Kano. Most wealthy Nigerians have business interests in Lagos, reflecting the country’s presence here,” he added.
Bwala also drew comparisons with global financial centres, saying, “London has more investment than all the other states in England combined. New York surpasses other U.S. states, including California. Paris attracts the highest concentration of infrastructure and investment in France. The same principle applies to Lagos.”
He stressed that investing in Lagos benefits the entire nation. “Lagos remains the commercial and infrastructural heartbeat of Nigeria. The resources concentrated here drive national growth. Lagos is the hub, the pride, and the engine of our country,” he concluded.
