Onanuga refutes claims that President Tinubu intends to relocate FCT to Lagos

Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, has rejected claims that the president plans to relocate the federal capital territory (FCT) from Abuja to Lagos. Onanuga clarified that the recent decision to move some departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the headquarters of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to Lagos should not be misinterpreted as an attempt to relocate the FCT. He emphasized that Abuja is here to stay and that those spreading these rumors are engaging in dishonest and divisive politics. Onanuga also highlighted that the move of FAAN to Lagos makes strategic sense as Lagos is the commercial capital and the hub of aviation business in Nigeria. He further explained that the relocation of some CBN departments to Lagos is justified since they deal with commercial banks that have their headquarters in the city. Onanuga criticized those who are using this issue to create regional and ethnic divisions, calling on them to stop playing dirty politics. The decision to relocate certain offices to Lagos was driven by the need to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs, not to undermine the status of Abuja as the federal capital. The public backlash, especially from the northern elite, reflects concerns about the potential implications for Abuja.