₦airaland Forum

Governor Mobolaji Johnson Declares: “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.”

History beacons. Wow I'm highly surprised here. Lagos State belongs to Yoruba people.

Truths9ja:
History beacons. Wow I'm highly surprised here. Lagos State belongs to Yoruba people.

Good for him. At least, he can enjoy his land in after life

Can that be said in all cities of Nigeria without someone inflicting injury on who said so

Are we still on this topic? FG designated it different in 2025 to justify why huge oil and gas revenues are being channeled there.

I didn't know this "No man's land" thing has been going on for so long.

MKPUOGALIGA:
Good for him. At least, he can enjoy his land in after life

yes sooo. His legacies is never forgotten

No comments, before Awon Ara Ijebu-Mushin ati Kwara claiming Lagos will raise up flags.

Please can someone help me post the picture of the newspaper publication where Lateef Jakande called Lagos state a NO MAN'S LAND? 😏

Shebi they were both Governors?

We Thank Jesus that both Herbert Macauley and the British Colonial Govt knew where Lagos and Yorubaland was and who its owners were even in 1890 before Nigeria was created

givedemwotowoto:
Are we still on this topic? FG designated it different in 2025 to justify why huge oil and gas revenues are being channeled there.

Since you didn't receive the updated memo we will send it to you

Truths9ja:
History beacons. Wow I'm highly surprised here. Lagos State belongs to Yoruba people.

Awon Iyaoloya general of Africa congrat for Una global awards

All this talk is irritating and meaningless. You can't eat your cake and have it too. Nobody is dragging Ogun or Osun or Ekiti. There has to be a reason.

With the trillions of Naira that have poured into Lagos due to the 'accident' of it being the Nigerian capital for over 60 years, with the attendant unfair advantages that has accrued to it as a result, it would be annoying to keep mouthing this rubbish talk. It is what it is.


Tomorrow now, the Ggagyi people or whatever they are called would raise shoulder to start forming ownership of Abuja/FCT and entitlement, and one emergent big belle tribal god will be shalaye-ing that he laid the 'blueprint' that 'developed' Abuja and that other Nigerians in Abuja should go back to their villages. We need to clear some things.

Christistruth03:
Since you didn't receive the updated memo we will send it to you

The update was him trying to be politically correct. He meant what he said the first time.

Fct as well, in fact all states have their indigenes

With the trillions of Naira that have poured into Lagos due to the 'accident' of it being the Nigerian capital for over 60 years, with the attendant unfair advantages

Imagine Mexicans claim ownership of Texas after USA don invest trillions of dollars developing Texas

God bless Lagos State. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Funny enough, he was probably referring to the encroachment of mainly Yoruba from the Western Region then who were claiming Lagos is no man's land.

At that time I doubt if people from other tribes were claiming Lagos as no man's land.

And of course Lagos city at that time was still Federal territory.

ElSudani:
I didn't know this "No man's land" thing has been going on for so long.

Zik and his tribe have coveted lagos since the 1940s. the problem is we dont study history. To the extent that Awolowo had before independence offered to contribute to the building of a new federal capital away from Lagos. that time lagos was not even a a state...it was just an area a total of 29 square miles.

Ojukwu lost the war because his troops crossed into Asaba with the aim of taking Lagos and Ibadan. That was when the war escalated, prior to that it wasnt seen as a war but a "police action". It wasnt about secession, it was about conquering Nigeria. He found a useful mugu liberal akotileta in victor Banjo...in the end he executed him when banjo realised Ojukwu was using him. Same thing Kalu is sponsoring indigenes bill. why do you need an indigine bill in a country you are a citizen and can live and work anywhere?

But Ronus said it was Igbo people that started calling Lagos no man's land.

This was in 1970 when Igbo people were still fighting Biafran War which means Igbos were not even in Lagos then.

Anything to justify the tribal violence they have been unleashing in Igbo areas every election and the one they are planning to in 2027.

They have already started wetting the ground by sending their foot soldier Sego

So e don tey wey dem dey refer to Lagos as No man's land

Una go explain tire

So those leaches had been constituting nuisances as far back as 1970?

Not Lateef Jakande? - as some or many have said before -

Okay it is alright. Lagos belongs to the Yorubas. It's common sense. Obas of Lagos below.

RollinTNDA:
With the trillions of Naira that have poured into Lagos due to the 'accident' of it being the Nigerian capital for over 60 years, with the attendant unfair advantages

Because you help your landlord plant grass and flower does not make you the owner of the house.

Truths9ja:
History beacons. Wow I'm highly surprised here. Lagos State belongs to Yoruba people.

Not only that there's is ifa oracle verse about the creation and settlers of the earlier settlers long before the exploration by white people. Some the tribes claimi ,' a no man's land ' now had their forebnears living in caves.

casualobserver:
Zik and his tribe have coveted lagos since the 1940s. the problem is we dont study history. To the extent that Awolowo had before independence offered to contribute to the building of a new federal capital away from Lagos. that time lagos was not even a a state.

Ojukwu lost the war because his troops crossed into Asaba with the aim of taking Lagos and Ibadan. That was when the war escalated. it wasnt about secession, it was about conquering Nigeria. he found a useful mugu in victor Banjo...in the end he executed him when banjo realised Ojukwu was using him. Same thing Kalu is sponsoring indigenes bill. why do you need an indigine bill in a country you are a citizen and can live and work anywhere?

Stop your lies and stop attempting to rewrite history. All these Ronu fake intellectual

The war began in the first place because Gowon failed to agree to administer Nigeria like a Confederacy which is what was agreed with Ojukwu at Aburi, Ghana.

Imagine saying Ojukwu crossed into Asaba when Murtala Muhammed and Brigadier Ibrahim Taiwo were responsible for the Asaba Massacre.



Asaba that was massacred by Nigerian troops because it was considered Biafran territory.

Zik coveted Lagos for what purpose? That's like saying Ikwerre people are coveting FCT because Wike is FCT Minister or Yoruba people are coveting FCT because Tinubu is in Aso Rock

Zik is from present day Anambra, was born in Niger and his only interest in Lagos was because he was President and as President must reside in the nation's capital

GreaterFuture:
It was not Lateef Jakande? - as some of many have said before -

Jakande was not the first of whatever you think it is.

Their hatred and bitterness made them force it on Igbos.

Even now, they're looking for how to rope the Igbos with what is happening in kwara state.

Nairaland get wahala
I swear,
Continue to dig up wetin no make sense,
Tomorrow u will bring up another story where u people are arguing with God that SW was first settlers in Nigeria or first to create humans with God

givedemwotowoto:
Are we still on this topic? FG designated it different in 2025 to justify why huge oil and gas revenues are being channeled there.

That dude in the picture is not from Lagos. His speech is null and void.

Photoshop

AI Generated newspaper


Emilokans should do better