Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, addressed rumors on Wednesday, stating that the President has no intentions of relocating the Federal Capital to Lagos. Onanuga asserted that those spreading these rumors are dishonest individuals promoting ethnic and regional agendas in an attempt to gain attention.
He argued that those fueling the false narrative are well aware that they are engaging in political tactics, albeit risky ones, to create divisions between the North and the South.
Onanuga emphasized that Abuja’s status as the Federal Capital is legally established and has come to stay. His statement came in response to the recent relocation of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), a department of the Aviation Ministry, to Lagos.
The Special Adviser pointed out that various parastatals are not based in Abuja, depending on their mandates. He stressed that administrative decisions, such as the movement of FAAN and some Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) departments to Lagos, should not be politicized. Onanuga clarified that these moves are rational, considering that Lagos is the commercial capital and a hub of aviation business in Nigeria.
He refuted the notion that these administrative changes indicate a plan to shift the entire Federal Capital to Lagos. Onanuga mentioned other agencies, like the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), which are situated in Lagos due to the nature of their operations.
In conclusion, Onanuga urged against playing dirty politics and emphasized the need to avoid creating harmful rumors to distract from larger issues and undermine an administration led by a Southerner. He called for a cessation of politicizing administrative decisions for the overall well-being of the nation.
