The Presidency has vehemently denied any plans to relocate the Federal Capital back to Lagos, dismissing such claims as misinformation orchestrated by political opponents.
Recent decisions, including moving the Department of Banking Supervision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) head office to Lagos, sparked displeasure among Northern senators and youths.
Responding to these concerns, the Presidency labeled the rumors as a ploy by political opponents who failed to prevent Bola Tinubu’s ascent to the presidency. It emphasized that Abuja’s status as the Federal Capital is legally binding and remains unchanged.
The Presidency accused those spreading the narrative of ethnic and regional bias, attempting to create unnecessary tension between the North and South.
It clarified that the recent administrative moves, like relocating FAAN, do not amount to moving the entire Federal Capital to Lagos. FAAN will maintain a presence in Abuja.
The statement defended the decision to move the Department of Banking Supervision of the CBN to Lagos, highlighting that it should not trigger discord as the department primarily deals with commercial banks, most of which have headquarters in Lagos.
The Presidency urged Nigerians to see through the campaign of falsehood and misinformation, emphasizing that the Tinubu-led administration is committed to fairness and equity across the nation.
It called for restraint from those spreading rumors, warning against distractions from the government’s focus on meeting the needs and aspirations of Nigerians.
Meanwhile, Senator Karimi Sunday criticized Senator Ali Ndume’s comments, considering them personal and not representative of the Senate’s position.
Doyin Okupe also cautioned Ndume, describing his pronouncements as provocative and unexpected.
In a separate appeal, former President of the Ijaw Youth Council, Udengs Eradiri, urged President Tinubu to consider relocating some critical federal agencies involved in the oil business to the Niger Delta region.
Eradiri emphasized that the decongestion of Abuja was overdue and suggested moving NNPCL subsidiaries’ headquarters to cities in the Niger Delta, fostering development in the region.
