President Bola Tinubu’s aide, Daniel Bwala, has clarified his statement referring to Lagos as a “no-man’s land,” saying his comments were misunderstood and never intended to deny the state’s Yoruba identity.

Bwala, who serves as Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, had argued, while speaking on Arise Television’s Daybreak programme, that Lagos’ status as Nigeria’s commercial capital justified the N3.9 trillion in federal projects reportedly allocated to the state in the last two years.

During the interview, he described Lagos as “a no-man’s land” and a “hub for all Nigerians.” His remark, which has now gone viral, prompted backlash on social media.

In a follow-up post on X, Bwala addressed the criticism, saying, “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 wrote.

“The unique identity of Lagos as a Yoruba homeland is settled and beyond dispute.”

Bwala explained that his comment was meant to reflect the inclusive, pan-Nigerian nature of Lagos, which he said “provides for every Nigerian, regardless of origin,” and that the state mirrors the diversity of our nation while remaining firmly rooted in Yoruba heritage.

He stated, “What I emphasised was the special place Lagos occupies in Nigeria and indeed West Africa — a city that, much like New York, Paris, or London, serves as the commercial nerve centre of our economy. Lagos provides every Nigerian, regardless of origin, a level playing field to thrive, and in this sense, it mirrors the diversity of our nation while remaining firmly rooted in Yoruba heritage.”

The presidential aide also defended the N3.9 trillion worth of federal projects reportedly allocated to Lagos State in the past two years, saying such investments are vital to sustaining Lagos’s economic role on behalf of the nation.

“My argument was, therefore, and justifiably so, for massive investments in infrastructure to sustain the economic and social responsibilities Lagos has shouldered on behalf of Nigeria,” Bwala said.

He then added that “any President who truly seeks to succeed must critically support Lagos, not because it is ‘no man’s land,’ but because it is the heartbeat of the nation’s development.”