I just watched an interview by a prominent celebrity and music star, whose father I knew, where he said Lagos State is no man’s land.
I believe that this fellow means well but is not well-advised about the history of Lagos State, so I will oblige him.
Attached is the official British colonial map of Nigeria, its three regions, and the colony of Lagos. As you can see from this map, other than Lagos Island and portions of Apapa, the entirety of what is now known as Lagos State was part of the Western Region of Nigeria.
The Western Region of Nigeria Government, under Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was responsible for the creation of Ikeja.
Ikeja is not a Lukumi Yoruba word. It is an acronym formed from the words Ikorodu and Epe Joint Administration.
The place now known as Ikeja, the capital of Lagos State, was previously known as Ala-Hausa. That word, Ala-Hausa, comes from Ala, a generic Lukumi Yoruba term used to describe something or someone associated with a trade, place, or thing. For example, Alata is someone who trades in Ata (pepper) or Alaba (Aba means meeting point in Lukumi Yoruba) is people who meet at the Aba.
There are others who maintain that the word stemmed from Ala-Awusa. However, I can only go by recorded history.
Over time, Ala-Hausa became bastardised as Alausa, where the Lagos State Government offices are situated within Ikeja. Meanwhile, Alaba became a major market in the Ojo Local Government of Lagos.
Chief Awolowo developed Ikeja, Oshodi, Isolo, Bariga, and Orile Iganmu as industrial clusters in the Western Region of Nigeria. These clusters produced goods that were used domestically and exported to other West African countries via the Lagos ports.
These areas were never a part of Lagos Island.
That is why, even today, the major businesses in those areas are still linked to the Odu’a Investment Company, which was formerly known as the Western Nigeria Development Company, and was founded by Chief Awolowo in 1959.
After the January 15, 1966, Ifeajuna-Nzeogwu coup, and the July 29, 1966, Northern counter coup, Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon released Chief Awolowo from prison.
Chief Awolowo was ordered released by the Gowon-led Federal Military on August 2, 1966 (the release took effect the next day). Gowon had become Head of State on August 1, 1966. The official gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, documenting the pardon granted to Chief Awolowo, was dated August 12, 1966. I am attaching a photo of that Gazette.
While Chief Awolowo was in prison, one of the major advocates for his release was the then Iyaloja of Market women in Lagos Island and environs. Her name was Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji. She was the mother of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and they bear a striking resemblance (please see attached photo).
When Chief Awolowo was released, she organised a big rally to receive him at Ikeja Airport, and begged him to actualise Lagos State.
I am attaching a photo taken during Alhaja Mogaji’s rally on Wednesday, August 3, 1966, to celebrate Chief Awolowo’s release from prison. You can clearly see her demand for the creation of Lagos State.
To reward her for fighting for his freedom, Chief Awolowo advocated for the creation of Lagos State with the Gowon administration, which was desperate to get his endorsement.
On Saturday, May 27, 1967, Alhaja Mogaji got her wish as Lagos State was created out of the former Western Region, with its capital at Alausa, Ikeja.
The districts of Lagos Island, which had been Nigeria’s capital, were not part of Lagos State. Lagos State, as it exists today, was the brainchild of Alhaja Mogaji and Chief Obafemi Awolowo and was carved out of Western Nigeria.
So, for anyone to say that Lagos State is a no-man’s land, or that they developed Lagos, is not historically accurate.
Reno Omokri
Gospeller. Deep Thinker. #TableShaker. Ruffler of the Feathers of Obidents. #1 Bestselling author of Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years. Hodophile. Hollywood Magazine Humanitarian of the Year, 2019. Business Insider Influencer of the Year 2022. 21st Most Talked About Person in Africa, 2024.