Former British prime minister Boris Johnson on Thursday downplayed reports of insecurity in Nigeria, declaring he felt “perfectly safe” while addressing an economic summit in the southeast state of Imo, amid ongoing challenges facing Africa’s most populous nation.
Speaking at the Imo State Economic Summit 2025 hosted by Governor Hope Uzodimma, Johnson revealed he had been cautioned about potential risks before travelling to Owerri.
“I want you to know that when I decided to come to Owerri, I read some things, and there were people saying, ‘There may be some security problems in Nigeria.’ Have you heard that? And I said, ‘Well, I am going to go anyway,’” Johnson told the audience.
“And let me ask you: do you feel safe here today in this conference? Yes, we all feel safe. And I feel perfectly safe. Thank you, Governor, for what you are doing,” he added, crediting local arrangements for the secure environment.
VIDEO: In my opinion, Imo state has an absolutely fantastic future.
— Boris Johnson, Former UK Prime Minister
🎥: Channels TV pic.twitter.com/6I9O8VBiqd
— Angel Network News (@angelnetnews) December 5, 2025
 The ex-leader, who served as UK prime minister from 2019 to 2022, used his keynote speech to praise Imo’s push for reliable electricity and highlight opportunities in artificial intelligence.
“Your focus on electricity is completely right. What is the future? The future is AI. For clean, sustainable electricity—and because of AI—it’s going to be colossal,” Johnson said. “I congratulate you for what you are doing to secure clean and sustainable power for Imo State and for the whole of Nigeria.”
He also underscored strong bilateral ties, noting exchanges of talent and goods.
“I am very proud of what we export to Nigeria. We send you pharmaceuticals, bankers, services of all kinds, automotive parts. And you send us so much in return—oil and gas, Nollywood movies, brilliant doctors, nurses, technicians, and tech geniuses from Nigeria,” Johnson remarked.
In a light-hearted nod, he added: “We send you former United Kingdom prime ministers, and you send us future United Kingdom prime ministers in the form of Kemi Badenoch,” referring to the Nigerian-origin leader of Britain’s Conservative Party.
The summit drew high-profile figures, including Vice President Kashim Shettima representing President Bola Tinubu, Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, and former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon.
Johnson’s positive assessment contrasts with persistent insecurity in parts of Nigeria, including kidnappings and banditry, though observers note his experience was in a heavily secured setting.
His visit is seen as a boost for investor confidence in the region, with Imo State promoting economic transformation initiatives.
