Presidency Defends N3.9trn Lagos Projects, Describes State as Neglected ‘No Man’s Land'”

Mr. Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has defended the N3.9 trillion in federal projects allocated to Lagos State over the past two years.

Bwala justified the spending as a strategic investment in the nation’s primary economic engine.

In an interview with Arise TV monitored on Wednesday by Persecondnews, Bwala explained the rationale behind the significant federal investments in Lagos, noting its unique status as a “no man’s land” that makes it an ideal hub for commerce and investment.

“Lagos is not just another state; it’s a city where everyone from across Nigeria finds opportunity. It’s the heartbeat of our economy, a place that belongs to no single ethnic group but to the entire country,” he asserted.

Bwala defended the N3.9 trillion federal investment in Lagos State, arguing that the city’s diverse and cosmopolitan nature makes it an economic engine for all of Nigeria.

He cited President Tinubu’s inability to win the state in the last election despite being a native of the South-West, as proof of Lagos’ diverse population and broad economic influence.

Bwala further noted that prominent figures, such as “the richest man in Africa,” have their primary business operations in Lagos, not their hometowns.

This, he explained, is because Lagos represents all of Nigeria, with almost every wealthy Nigerian having business interests in the city.

Drawing comparisons to global economic hubs like London, New York, and Paris, Bwala stressed that Lagos’s strategic role as a commercial center naturally warrants heavy infrastructure spending.

He insisted that large-scale infrastructure is essential to sustain Lagos’s position as Nigeria’s commercial capital and urged Nigerians to view federal investments in the state as a necessary strategic move rather than an act of political favoritism.

“So the idea that you put more in Lagos than in other states or the federation should be put into a proper context. Lagos is a no man’s land. Lagos is the hub of Nigeria. Lagos is the pride of the country.”

Persecondnews reports that the Presidency’s clarification aims to calm tensions surrounding resource distribution across the country.

By highlighting Lagos’ economic significance and diverse population, Bwala emphasised the importance of investing in the state’s infrastructure to drive national growth and development.