The Presidency has refuted rumors of a plan to relocate the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) back to Lagos, dismissing such claims as misinterpretations fueled by mischief-makers.
The statement, issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, clarified that recent directives by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development were wrongly construed to create unnecessary ethnic mistrust.
According to Onanuga, the relocation of the Department of Banking Supervision to Lagos and the directive for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to move its head office back to Lagos were misinterpreted as part of a broader plan to shift the capital.
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The statement emphasized that such claims were baseless and politically motivated, originating from opponents seeking to hinder President Bola Tinubu’s candidacy.
Onanuga labeled those behind the narrative as dishonest ethnic and regional champions, asserting that Abuja’s status as the Federal Capital Territory is legally entrenched and immutable.
He clarified that the administrative moves of FAAN and the CBN’s Department of Banking Supervision should not be misconstrued as a wholesale relocation but rather as strategic adjustments to enhance operational efficiency.
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The statement highlighted that Lagos, being the commercial capital and aviation hub of Nigeria, was a suitable location for FAAN’s presence.
The move should not be a cause for discord, as FAAN will still maintain a presence in Abuja. Similarly, the relocation of the CBN department dealing with commercial banks to Lagos aligns with the geographical distribution of bank headquarters.
Onanuga urged restraint and cautioned against politicizing administrative decisions that are part of routine operations.
He reiterated the commitment of the Tinubu-led administration to fairness and equity across all regions of the country. The statement concluded by calling for citizens’ focus on the pursuit of good governance and dismissing rumor-mongering as a disservice to the nation’s expectations.