Move To Other States If You Don’t Like Lagos’ – Omokri Slams ‘No-Man’s Land’ Claims

Former presidential aide and social commentator, Reno Omokri, has strongly refuted assertions labeling Lagos State as a “no-man’s land,” emphasizing that historically, only Lagos Island—not the entire state—served as Nigeria’s capital. In a recent post on his verified 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) handle, Omokri addressed what he described as widespread “ignorance” among some activists and journalists about Lagos’s history and political structure.

Omokri clarified that Lagos State as a whole was never Nigeria’s capital. While Lagos Island once held that status, the rest of the state did not. He drew a parallel with London in the United Kingdom, highlighting the distinction between the City of London and Greater London, which operate under different governments. This analogy underlines the nuanced governance and identity within Lagos State.

 

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He further noted that Lagos Island has historically been a melting pot reflecting Nigeria’s rich diversity. For instance, major roads like Ahmadu Bello Way and Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue—named after prominent figures from different ethnic groups—are prime, multi-billion-dollar waterfront streets hosting embassies and major institutions. The Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, named after a former Nigerian Head of State from Kano, serves as another example of Lagos embracing national symbols without contention.

On the issue of Lagos prioritizing its indigenes, Omokri asserted that Lagos State, like any other Nigerian state, has the constitutional right to implement policies that protect its culture and favor its native population. He emphasized that this is not unethical but a foundational reason why Nigeria was divided into states—to allow ethnic groups their own cultural spaces. Omokri argued that while inclusivity is commendable, it is not incumbent upon any state besides its own to promote the heritage of others. He likened this concept to the United States, where individual states maintain the autonomy to adopt differing social and political stances on contentious issues such as abortion and LGBTQ rights.

Addressing critics of Lagos, Omokri made it clear that Nigeria has 35 other states, and anyone dissatisfied with Lagos is free to relocate. He urged critics to fact-check claims about Lagos’s conditions, noting that according to the United Nations, the world’s most polluted city and state are elsewhere. Omokri highlighted Lagos’s impressive governance and infrastructural achievements, which include:

• Paying above the minimum wage to workers
• Ensuring no outstanding salary arrears for civil servants
• Subsidizing public education and transportation
• Conducting regular Local Government Area (LGA) elections without gubernatorial interference in LGA funds
• Providing social welfare programs like soup kitchens and subsidized farmers’ markets
• Significant investments in public infrastructure
• Ranking as the 19th best city to live in worldwide by TimeOut Magazine

In relation to ongoing protests against street renaming in Lagos, Omokri warned against allowing such actions to be exploited as a pretext for orchestrated disorder. He stated unequivocally that any attempt to use protests to damage Lagos would not be tolerated.

In conclusion, Reno Omokri reaffirmed that Lagos, like all Nigerian states, deserves autonomy to shape its identity free from external meddling or misinformed narratives. His comments serve as a robust defense of Lagos’s unique historical status, governance, and cultural policy amid contemporary debates.

 

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