“Lagos Is the Reason Why the Whole Nigeria Is Not Growing” — VeryDarkMan Sparks Controversy With Bold Claim

Controversial activist and social media commentator, VeryDarkMan, has once again ignited public debate after declaring that Lagos State is the major obstacle to Nigeria’s overall progress.

In a now-viral video posted on X (formerly Twitter), the outspoken critic didn’t mince words:

“Lagos is the reason why the whole Nigeria is not growing,” he said.
“All the opportunities, all the attention, all the investments — they hoard everything and turn the rest of Nigeria into a backyard.”

While some have dismissed the statement as another attempt at online clout-chasing, others believe VeryDarkMan is voicing an uncomfortable truth — that the over-centralization of power, resources, and development in Lagos has stunted the growth of other regions.

“He’s right,” one user replied.
“Everyone runs to Lagos. What happens to the rest of the country? Why is it that without Lagos, the economy looks like it’s on life support?”

Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital and home to over 20 million people, contributes over 30% of the country’s GDP. It attracts the lion’s share of foreign direct investment, startup capital, entertainment attention, and federal influence.

Critics argue that this dominance drains other states of talent, innovation, and infrastructure, leaving them underdeveloped and dependent.

“Nigeria needs decentralization,” said a political analyst.
“It is not sustainable for one city to carry an entire nation while others are structurally neglected.”

VeryDarkMan’s comment has also stirred regional sensitivity, particularly among Lagosians who feel the city is being unfairly scapegoated.

“If other states were managed better, people wouldn’t need to migrate to Lagos,” one resident responded.
“Fix your own state before blaming Lagos.”

The video has reopened critical discussions about:

• Federal structure and over-centralization

• Neglected development in Eastern, Northern, and Middle Belt states

• The lopsided nature of economic growth in Nigeria

Some are calling for true federalism, where states are empowered to develop independently without being tied to Lagos or the federal purse.

In follow-up posts, VeryDarkMan clarified that he doesn’t “hate” Lagos, but wants Nigerians to “stop pretending everything revolves around one city.”

“It’s not a Lagos vs Nigeria issue,” he said.
“It’s a system that overfed Lagos while starving everyone else. And that’s why the country isn’t moving forward.”