No Capitol Shift: Presidency Dispels Rumors of Tinubu’s Plan to Relocate Federal Capital to Lagos
In a bid to quash swirling rumors and speculations, the Presidency categorically stated that President Bola Tinubu has no intentions of relocating the Federal Capital from Abuja to Lagos. The recent relocation of certain government departments and parastatals to Lagos, according to Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, is solely for administrative efficiency and improved service delivery.
Issuing a comprehensive statement in Abuja, Onanuga sought to clarify the government’s position, asserting, “We consider it necessary to inform Nigerians that there is no iota of truth in the interpretations given to the directives in some quarters and the unfounded claims and rumors that President Bola Tinubu is planning to relocate the Federal Capital back to Lagos.”
He further addressed the origins of these rumors, attributing them to political opponents who allegedly sought to hinder Tinubu’s presidential aspirations by spreading baseless claims during the previous election cycle.
The announcement of the relocation of the Department of Banking Supervision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Lagos, as well as the move of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, triggered varied reactions across Nigeria. Some segments of the population perceived these shifts as indicative of a hidden agenda to move the seat of power back to Lagos, sparking debates and discussions.
Onanuga dismissed such notions, stating, “Those behind this renewed sordid narrative, using the recent decision of the CBN and FAAN as a pretext to start another round of toxic opposition are dishonest ethnic and regional champions, trying to draw attention to themselves.”
He emphasized the permanence of Abuja as the Federal Capital, asserting its legal foundation and dismissing any attempts to overturn it. The rationale behind the recent relocations was clarified as a matter of administrative convenience, leveraging Lagos’s status as the commercial capital and aviation hub of Nigeria.
The Special Adviser elucidated that FAAN would maintain a presence in Abuja, and the CBN’s move was driven by its engagement with commercial banks, most of which have their headquarters in Lagos. Onanuga drew attention to existing parastatals located outside Abuja, such as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in Lagos, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) in Lokoja, and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Criticizing those pushing a “campaign of falsehood and misinformation,” Onanuga called for restraint and urged against playing divisive politics. He asserted that the government’s focus is on providing good governance that positively impacts the lives of citizens, emphasizing the detrimental effects of rumor-mongering on public perception and national unity.
As Nigeria navigates the complexities of governance and political discourse, the statement from the Presidency aims to bring clarity to a contentious issue, reinforcing the commitment to uphold the rule of law, transparency, and equitable governance for the benefit of all Nigerians.
