By Awe Adedoyin
Lagos is a no man’s land has been a reoccurring statement for many years for divergent reasons, with different opinions surrounding the emergence and origin of Lagos.
People who make these claims neglect historical research and understanding because the only pointer to this statement is the weak point of our history and may be borne out of political resentment.
From a historical perspective, the Yoruba subgroup known as the Awori first settled in Lagos in the 15th century, followed by the Binis in the 16th century.
The Awori relocated to Lagos Island after first settling on an island now known as Iddo.
Lagos State is primarily a Yoruba environment, with the Aworis and Ogus of that sub-nationality living in the Ikeja and Badagry Divisions, respectively.
The Ogus are primarily found in Badagry, while the Awori make up the indigenous population of Lagos.
However, other pioneer immigrants went by the name of Ekos, Edos, Saros, Brazilians, Kannike/Tapa, etc. The majority of the locals in the Ikorodu and Epe Divisions are Remos and Ijebus, with a few pockets of Eko-Awori settlers scattered around the state’s coastal and riverine regions.
A British naval force invaded and conquered Lagos1851. Upon the signing of the Lagos Treaty of Cession in August 1861, Lagos was incorporated as a British colony on the 5th of March 1862.
The authority of King Dosunmu was severely curtailed, and William McCoskry, a consul, was appointed as acting ruler. Now that Lagos was a British colony, it was protected and managed by the British government.
As early as 1872 Lagos was already a cosmopolitan trading center with a population of over 60,000.
But what could have stirred up the assertion that Lagos is a no man’s land? Like the popular adage says, there’s no smoke without fire?
Lagos being an economic powerhouse could have been one of the reasons the cosmopolitan city was first described as ‘a no man’s land.’
Lagos would have one of the biggest economies in Africa if considered a nation unto itself. It has been able to diversify its economy and significantly lessen its reliance on oil.
Lagos has a long history of economic development and change. Although it is the smallest state in Nigeria and only makes up 0.4 percent of the country’s total land area, it accounts for more than 60% of the country’s industrial and commercial operations.
With over 75% of its income coming from sources other than government funds derived from oil earnings, Lagos is a financially viable city. Of all the states in Nigeria, it has the largest internal income production.
According to a report by the Lagos State government, more than 50% of Nigeria’s non-oil GDP and 26.7% of the country’s overall GDP were contributed by the Lagos Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Lagos is home to more than 50% of Nigeria’s non-oil industrial capacity.
All of Nigeria’s main banks have their headquarters in Lagos, making it the country’s financial center. The Nigerian Stock Exchange [NSE] is also located there. It contributes more than 50% of Nigeria’s port revenues and over 80% of the nation’s foreign commerce flows. The Lagos Bureau of Statistics estimates Lagos’s GDP to be N27.125 trillion ($145.141 billion) in 2016; it is anticipated to increase to N628 trillion ($157.728 billion) by 2018, with an average annual growth rate of 4.2% through that year. Despite Ghana’s GDP being rebased, Lagos has the largest economy in the ECOWAS subregion, with an estimated 24 million people.
Nigeria and the ECOWAS still rely on Lagos State as their financial, commercial, and economic hub.
The economic heart of the ECOWAS and the starting point for innovation and development in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa, Lagos State’s Gross National Product [GNP] is three times more regionally than that of any other West African country.
Aside from its status as a former FCT, Lagos is one of the few states in Nigeria that can proudly boast of numerous Airports and Seaports.
Secondly, Lagos is a melting point. Despite being predominantly Yoruba, the state is a global sociocultural melting pot that draws both Africans and non-Africans to Nigeria. Its strong economic foundation, vital marine location, and socio-political significance lead to a high rate of Rural-Urban migration to the State.
Lagos state from time immemorial has been the best destination for rural-urban migration in Nigeria. People rush down to Lagos with the hope of making a living.
In the last 50 years, Lagos State has witnessed the highest rate of Rural-Urban Migration in Nigeria.
According to statistics by coolgeography.co.uk, Lagos experienced an influx of over 7 million people from 1990 to 2004 with many of these from other poor regions. The migration was driven by rural push factors and urban pull factors.
The fact that the city is accommodating, and accepts people from different parts of the world, has also made some people assume that it’s a no man’s land.
The accommodating nature of the indigenes of Lagos can’t be overemphasized, from the colonial times till this day, Lagosians have proven to be accommodating compared to some other parts of the country that are quite hostile to strangers and non-indigenes.
There is no denying the fact that Yoruba are the most accommodating people in Nigeria . The most accommodating place in Nigeria is Lagos.
Lagos state is ranked as the Most NYSC-Friendly State, this record speaks volumes of the good accommodating nature of Lagos.
There has also been a long-standing list of people of non-Yoruba extraction holding high-ranking political positions in Lagos since 1950, same as in the Lagos Civil Service, Jude Emeka Idimogu, Ben Akabueze, a former commissioner in Lagos State; Arthur Worry, a former commissioner in Lagos etc are some non-indigenes who held top positions in Lagos recently.
Lagos has a wide mix of different tribes coexisting peacefully.Lagos’s population is growing 10 times faster than that of New York and Los Angeles, and more than the population of 32 African nations combined, the State population is expected to hit the 35 million mark in 2020.
Conclusively, the assertion that ‘Lagos is a no man’s land’ is not only false but also antagonistic because it misappropriated the history of her indigenes, nevertheless, the tremendous impact of non-indigenes in Lagos economic growth and overall development can’t be overlooked. Trillions of Naira investment can be linked to the non-indigenes of Lagos, as they continue to increase commerce and trade in Lagos amidst several opportunities.
What can be rightly said is ‘Lagos is a home for all’.
Lagos is a home for all that best suits the narrative of Lagos State as a multi-dynamic economic state rather than the ugly narrative of no man’s land.
As much as there is a need for cultural preservation of the history and culture of Lagos State, the inclusiveness of non-Lagosians into Lagos shouldn’t be rubbed on the faces of Lagosians.
There’s more to achieve with unity from all parties living in Lagos.
A better Lagos is all we seek.
•Adedoyin is an historical researcher and writer 08113028605.