*The Federal Government cautions mischief-makers and political opponents to note the decisions to relocate some agencies from Abuja ‘are purely administrative that should not be politicised by people of goodwill and those who wish our country well’

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

The Federal Government says it has noticed how mischief-makers, bent on fuelling needless ethnic mistrust, have deliberately misinterpreted the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to relocate its Department of Banking Supervision to Lagos and the directive of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) should relocate its head office to Lagos.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, who said this in a statement issued Wednesday, January 24, 2024, noted the government “considers it necessary to inform Nigerians that there is no iota of truth in the interpretations given to the directives in some quarters and the unfounded claims and rumours that President Bola Tinubu is planning to relocate the Federal Capital to Lagos.”

The statement noted the rumours, which first surfaced during the electioneering 2023, were sponsored by political opponents looking for all manner of weapons to prevent Asiwaju Tinubu from being elected as President by a section of the country.

Onanuga stated: “Those behind this renewed sordid narrative, using the recent decision of the CBN and FAAN as pretext to start another round of toxic opposition are dishonest ethnic and regional champions, trying to draw attention to themselves.

“The status of Abuja as the Federal Capital has come to stay. It is backed by law.”

He also explained the movement of FAAN, an agency of Aviation Ministry to Lagos, where it was located before former Sen. Hadi Sirika, former Minister for Aviation, relocated it to Abuja during the last administration, “does not amount to moving the Federal Capital to Lagos.”

The administrative move should have ordinarily attracted scant attention, as Lagos is the commercial capital and the hub of aviation business in Nigeria, he said.

The statement further affirmed “FAAN will still maintain some presence in Abuja. It is not a wholesale movement.”

As regards the movement of the Department of Banking Supervision of the CBN to Lagos, the Presidency argued this “should not trigger any discord within the polity.

“The Department concerned deals with commercial banks, almost all of which have their headquarters in Lagos.”

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy stated: All those pushing this campaign of falsehood and misinformation know they are merely playing politics, albeit a dangerous politics, to pit the North against the South.”

The Federal Government as well contended that there are many parastatals that are not based in Abuja, depending on their mandate.

Onanuga also cited the Headquarters of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) as examples of the Federal agencies that are in Lagos.

Likewise, the Headquarters of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) is in Lokoja, Kogi State capital, while that of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), was commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari, is in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

The statement said it must be pointed out that “these decisions are purely administrative that should not be politicised by people of goodwill and those who wish our country well.”

The Information and Strategy aide noted: “President Tinubu-led administration is working tirelessly to be just and equitable to every section of the country.

“We urge restraint on the part of those whose stock in trade is to create all manner of dangerous rumours to distract every government from the noble objective of meeting the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.”

Onanuga added: “Our citizens desire nothing but good governance that positively impacts their lives.

“Rumour mongering is a pernicious disservice to this ultimate expectation of our people.”

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