Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s President, categorically denies any intention to shift the nation’s capital from Abuja to Lagos, according to an official statement from his office.
The presidency attributes the spread of such rumors to political adversaries and asserts that there is no factual basis to support these claims.
The rumors initially surfaced prior to Tinubu assuming office last May but gained momentum this week following announcements of the relocation of the airports agency and a central bank department to Lagos.
Abuja replaced Lagos as Nigeria’s capital in 1991, selected for its central location in the country, while Lagos, situated on the south-west coast, remains the economic and largest city.
The presidency released a statement to quash the relocation speculations, expressing concern about “mischief-makers” attempting to sow unnecessary ethnic mistrust.
Bayo Onanuga, a presidential adviser, condemned those pushing the relocation narrative, stating that they were engaging in divisive politics to create a north-south rift.
Nigeria, with its diverse population of more than 250 ethnic groups and over 500 languages, is divided between the predominantly Muslim north and largely Christian south. The statement warned against manipulating the relocation issue to fuel ethnic tensions.
While some voices from the south-west have called for a separate Yoruba nation in recent years, it is not considered a significant threat. Despite concerns that Tinubu, being of Yoruba descent, might favor the south-west, his adviser insisted that the Tinubu-led administration is committed to fairness and equity across all regions.
Onanuga clarified that the relocation of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (Faan) and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s banking supervision department to Lagos was solely an administrative decision.
