Tinubu to Make Lagos Nigeria's Capital? Presidency Reacts, Speaks on Relocation of CBN, FAAN Offices

• The presidency has denied a report that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu plans to relocate the nation's capital to Lagos
• Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, said the rumour started during the 2023 election
• Onanuga also explained the reason for moving, some CBN departments and the FAAN headquarters to Lagos

Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 5 years of experience covering metro and government policy

State House, Abuja - Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser Information and Strategy to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has dismissed the rumour that the president wants to move the Federal Capital to Lagos.

Onanuga said the rumour of relocating the nation’s capital back to Lagos first surfaced during the 2023 presidential election campaign by Tinubu’s opponents.

Read also

“It won’t harm northerners”: Omokri speaks on relocation of CBN units, FAAN headquarters to Lagos

He said Abuja has come to stay as it is backed by law to be the nation’s capital city.

He stated this via his X page (formerly known as Twitter) @aonanuga1956 on Wednesday, January 24.

Speaking on CBN and FAAN's relocation to Lagos, he said those pushing a campaign of falsehood are trying to set up the North against the South.

Tinubu’s aide said the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had always been in Lagos before former minister Hadi Sirika moved it to Abuja during Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

“FAAN should be nowhere else but near the industry it regulates. FAAN will still maintain some presence in Abuja, as it is not a wholesale movement.”

“Similarly, the movement of some departments of the CBN to Lagos should not trigger any hoopla. The departments concerned, including the bank supervision department, are those dealing with commercial banks, all with headquarters in Lagos. A regulator ought to be close to the businesses it regulates.”

Read also

BREAKING: President Tinubu to depart Abuja for France today, Wednesday, January 24

Ndume warns Tinubu over relocating CBN, FAAN

Legit.ng earlier reported that the chairman, Senate Committee on the Army, Senator Ali Ndume, warned President Tinubu against moving some CBN departments and FAAN headquarters to Lagos.

Ndume said there would be political consequences if President Tinubu goes ahead with the plan.

The lawmaker said Tinubu was being misled by a cartel he termed “Lagos Boys”, who do not know how Nigeria works and will not be able to help the president when the repercussions come.

“Northerners should not provoke anyone”: Clark warns

Legit.ng also reported that the Northern Senators Forum's (NSF) decision to reject the planned relocation of the CBN and FAAN from Abuja to Lagos has generated a lot of uproar across the country.

The NSF alleged lopsidedness in the allocation of resources in the 2024 budget against the North.

Read also

CBN, FAAN: Tinubu under fire as APC stalwart demands relocation of NNPCL, NIMASA, NPA to Niger Delta

Reacting to the protest by some Northern groups, South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, said the Northerners should not provoke other Nigerians with their cause.

Source: Legit.ng