“Lagos Is Not A No Man’s Land”

A 1970 Statement Affirming the Indigenous Identity of Lagos State

The image displays the front page of the Daily Times newspaper dated Thursday, September 17, 1970, featuring the bold headline: “LAGOS IS NOT A ‘NO MAN’S LAND,’ SAYS JOHNSON.” The headline captures a historic declaration by Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson, the first military governor of Lagos State, addressing a long-debated perception regarding the ownership and identity of Lagos.

Governor Johnson’s statement was made in response to growing claims among some Nigerians that Lagos, due to its cosmopolitan nature and rapid urban growth, belonged to no particular group or people. As Nigeria’s former federal capital and a melting pot of ethnicities, Lagos had become a hub of migration and diversity. However, Johnson sought to correct the misconception that this diversity erased its indigenous roots.

In his statement, Governor Johnson firmly asserted that Lagos was not a “no man’s land”, but rather the homeland of its original inhabitants—the Awori, a Yoruba subgroup—along with other early settlers such as the Benin and Brazilian returnees. He emphasized that the cultural and historical identity of Lagos must be respected even as it evolved into a national and international urban center.

The newspaper article also reported Johnson’s rejection of proposals to carve out portions of Lagos State as a separate Federal Capital Territory. He described such suggestions as “unreasonable and impracticable,” insisting that Lagos must retain its integrity as a state. His argument reflected both a defense of local heritage and a pragmatic stance on governance, coming just months after the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970—a period when national unity and state identity were major political themes.

Governor Johnson’s administration, which lasted from 1967 to 1975, was instrumental in shaping Lagos into a modern metropolis. Under his leadership, Lagos State was created following the state-creation exercise of May 27, 1967, which divided Nigeria into twelve states. His government prioritized infrastructure development, urban planning, and civic administration, while also advocating for the recognition of Lagos’s indigenous population and its historical lineage.

The Daily Times article from September 1970 thus captures more than a political statement—it reflects an early assertion of cultural ownership and identity within post-colonial Nigeria. Johnson’s remarks continue to resonate in contemporary debates about belonging and heritage in Lagos, a city that remains the country’s economic and cultural heartbeat.

Source

Daily Times, Thursday, September 17, 1970. “LAGOS IS NOT A ‘NO MAN’S LAND,’ SAYS JOHNSON.”