Lagos is more than a city, it is a symbol of Nigeria’s contradictions and potentials. A megacity of trade, culture, and migration, Lagos carries the weight of history while straining under the pressures of modernity. At its heart lies a question that has sparked debate for decades. Whose land is Lagos? Is it still part of Yorubaland and the Southwest, or has it evolved into a “no man’s land”?
This is not just a historical inquiry but a question of identity, ownership, and the future of Nigeria’s most populous and economically dominant state.
The story of Lagos begins with the Awori, a Yoruba subgroup that migrated from Ile-Ife in the 15th century. Settling along lagoons and islands, they established small fishing and trading communities under the leadership of Olofin Ogunfuminire. According to legend, a mystical plate sent by Oduduwa guided Olofin to the settlement, marking the foundation of Eko the original Lagos.
By the 16th century, the Benin Kingdom exerted influence, appointing Ashipa as Lagos’s administrator. While Lagos paid tribute to Benin for centuries, its identity remained largely Yoruba. European contact from 1472 onward, and British colonization in 1861, transformed Lagos into a commercial hub and eventually the colonial capital of Nigeria. These historical layers, Awori roots, Benin influence, and colonial development set the stage for a city of immense complexity.
Lagos’s special status as a federal territory until 1967 created both opportunity and ambiguity. In 1967, Lagos State was formally created, merging Lagos Island and the surrounding towns into a single state with Ikeja as its capital. Administratively and geographically, Lagos is firmly in the Southwest geopolitical zone, sharing borders with Ogun State and maintaining its Yoruba cultural foundations.
Yet, Lagos is undeniably cosmopolitan. Today, indigenous Lagosians make up less than half the population. Igbos dominate markets and trade, Hausas run transportation and logistics, and communities from across Africa and beyond contribute to the city’s economic dynamism. Lagos’s rise to a megacity of over 21 million residents has made it a national and continental economic powerhouse.
The notion of Lagos as a “no man’s land” originated from its federal capital status, symbolizing a city that belonged to all Nigerians. Over time, however, some have used the phrase to assert claims that Lagos is equally “owned” by non-indigenes, especially those from the Southeast.
From a historical perspective, this claim is inaccurate. The Awori and other Yoruba subgroups remain the ancestral landowners, recognized through customary law and affirmed by colonial court rulings such as Amodu Tijani v. Secretary of Southern Nigeria (1921). The Idejo chiefs , descendants of Lagos’s founding families hold absolute ownership title to much of the land on Lagos Island, while other prominent families maintain ancestral claims across the city.
Politically and socially, these claims are sensitive. Some Igbos and other migrant communities argue that, given their economic contributions and the city’s historical role as a national capital, Lagos belongs equally to all. For many Yorubas, however, this narrative is perceived as an attempt to erase centuries of indigenous history.
Lagos embodies Nigeria’s central tension, the collision of heritage and modernity. On one hand, its Yoruba identity is undeniable from language, festivals, and sacred sites to traditional rulers and land ownership. On the other, its cosmopolitan nature is central to its global status.
The challenge is to balance respect for indigenous rights with inclusivity. Indigenous Lagosians must see their history honored, while migrants from Igbo, Hausa, Edo, and beyond should be welcomed for their contributions to Lagos’s growth. The city’s future depends on embracing both truths, Lagos is Yoruba land by history, yet a shared space for opportunity, innovation, and cultural exchange.
Geographically, politically, and culturally, Lagos remains part of the Southwest. It participates in regional governance, Yoruba cultural networks, and the South-West Governors’ Forum. But its identity as Nigeria’s economic hub makes it a national city in practice, a space where millions of Nigerians stake livelihoods, homes, and dreams.
The phrase “no man’s land” is therefore both historically misleading and socially symbolic. It reflects Lagos’s inclusivity but should not obscure its origins. Recognizing Yoruba heritage while embracing migrants’ contributions is the path forward.
Lagos is a city of contrasts, ancestral landownership and cosmopolitan dynamism. Yoruba traditions and multiethnic innovation, historical pride and modern aspiration. Its story is one of balance. Deny its Yoruba roots, and you erase centuries of history. Deny its cosmopolitan reality, and you stifle the growth and diversity that make it Africa’s economic heartbeat.
The task is clear, acknowledge the past, respect indigenous claims, and cultivate an inclusive future. Lagos, after all, is Eko for show, Yoruba land at its core, yet a home for millions of Nigerians and Africans who dream of making it their own. In navigating this dual identity, Lagos not only defines itself but illuminates a pathway for Nigeria’s larger challenge, how to honor heritage while embracing the transformative power of diversity.
