Olusegun Adeyemo
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has described Lagos State as the “pride of Nigeria’s economy” and a cosmopolitan hub that belongs to all Nigerians.
Speaking on a televised programme monitored by The Journal Nigeria, Bwala dismissed claims that the Federal Government’s concentration of projects in Lagos amounted to favoritism, insisting it was an investment in the nation’s commercial centre.
“Lagos is unique,” he said. “It is a cosmopolitan city where every part of Nigeria is represented. In the last election, even though the President hails from the South-West, he did not win Lagos. That speaks to the openness of the state. The richest man in Africa is from the North, yet his business is in Lagos. Almost every wealthy Nigerian has investments there.”
Bwala likened Lagos to other global economic centres. “London attracts more investments than the rest of England combined. New York has more infrastructure than most U.S. states, and Paris leads France in this regard. In every country, the commercial nerve centre requires concentrated infrastructure to drive national growth,” he explained.
He further defended reports that Lagos had attracted about N3.9 trillion worth of federal projects in the last two years, saying such investments were critical for the country’s overall progress.
“Whatever Lagos benefits, Nigeria benefits. The idea that Lagos receives more than other states should be seen in context. Lagos is the hub of commerce and the pride of the nation,” Bwala stressed.