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Amid Rising Insecurity, Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson Claims He Feels “Perfectly Safe” In Nigeria
December 4, 2025
NEWS

Former British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, on Thursday declared that he felt “perfectly safe” during his visit to Nigeria, pushing back against negative security reports and global concerns over rising violence in the country.

Johnson, who delivered the keynote address at the Imo State Economic Summit 2025 in Owerri, said he was not deterred by warnings about Nigeria’s security situation before embarking on the trip.

“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?” he asked the audience as quoted by The PUNCH. “And I said, ‘Well, I am going to go anyway.’”

Turning to the gathering, he added: “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.”

Johnson’s remarks come as Nigeria struggles with renewed waves of abductions, banditry and communal attacks.

Last month, gunmen kidnapped more than 300 students and teachers in Niger State, while other mass abductions were recorded across the north.

The situation has drawn international criticism, including a recent warning from U.S. President, Donald Trump, accusing the Nigerian government of failing to protect vulnerable groups, particularly Christian communities.

The former British leader praised Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma for his ambition to deliver 24-hour electricity to the state, describing the plan as both visionary and achievable with the support of emerging technologies.

“Your focus on electricity is completely right,” Johnson said. “What is the future? The future is AI. For clean, sustainable electricity— and because of AI — it’s going to be colossal.”

He added, “I congratulate you for what you are doing to secure clean and sustainable power for Imo State and for the whole of Nigeria.”

Johnson used his speech to highlight historic and cultural ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, applauding what he described as a mutually beneficial exchange of talent and economic assets.

“I am very proud of what we export to Nigeria — pharmaceuticals, bankers, services of all kinds,” he said. “And you send us so much in return — oil and gas, Nollywood movies, brilliant doctors, nurses, technicians, and tech geniuses from Nigeria. We are very, very grateful.”

In a lighter moment, he quipped: “We send you former United Kingdom prime ministers, and you send us future United Kingdom prime ministers in the form of Kemi Badenoch.”

The summit drew an impressive lineup of global and national dignitaries, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu; former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; businessman Aliko Dangote; Finance Minister Wale Edun; and several state governors.

Governor Uzodimma, who hosted the event, said Johnson’s visit underscored growing international confidence in the state’s economic direction.

Johnson’s message of confidence stands in sharp contrast to the country’s ongoing challenges. Nigeria has been grappling with a fresh surge in violence — from mass kidnappings and rural attacks to tensions around religious persecution.

Still, the former UK leader insisted his experience in Imo State proved that perceptions of Nigeria are not always aligned with reality.

“I feel perfectly safe,” he repeated. “Nigeria has incredible potential, and what is happening here today shows a state determined to secure its future.”

SaharaReporters

Johnson, who delivered the keynote address at the Imo State Economic Summit 2025 in Owerri, said he was not deterred by warnings about Nigeria’s security situation before embarking on the trip.

Take him to sokoto and let him move around without security

Boris Johnson should be commended for making the trip to Nigeria despite the security challenges. His presence in Imo State also underscores the growing confidence in the state and the country at large.

You once said Nigeria is fantastically corrupt, you na system person, collecting loaves of bread seriously since 19 00

Modified
David Cameron was in the beat that year, na so false information dey use spread.

I here by denounce this comment totally and in its entirety. Any pains this might have caused the oyibo and any other person's is highly regretable.

Make e go spend few days for sambisa forest

OLAADEGBU:
Johnson, who delivered the keynote address at the Imo State Economic Summit 2025 in Owerri, said he was not deterred by warnings about Nigeria’s security situation before embarking on the trip.

Whatever rocks his boat. The original settlers ain't perfectly safe. It's even funny a foreigner is safer than real settlers.

Imo State governors know how to bring big names to the state. At the end of their tenure, they don't leave any meaningful projects behind.

Hope Uzodinma wasted an entire tenure living in Abuja. 2 years to end of 8 years, he wakes up from his slumber and started a project marathon.

This was how Rochas kept inviting big names, including President Zuma of South Africa. He would litter the state with inferior projects, most of which have collapsed now.

NOGRUDGES:
You once said Nigeria is fantastically corrupt, you na system person, collecting loaves of bread seriously since 19 00

He wasn't the person who said that. It was PM David Cameron

Take him to Orlu or Okigwe. In that same Imo state.

All our executives No. 1 priority should be building a good and sustainable security architecture (backed with technology and AI) to safe guard citizens.

He should have delivered that speech in either zamfara, kebbi, sokoto, niger or kwara, then we know when it meant to be safe on his words in Nigeria, even from his uk they are not safe from knife extremist.

THE SAME DELUSIIONARY THAT PLUNGED UKRAINE INTO WAR WITH RUSSIA.
Boris johnson , a minion of the devil or what?

Make NSCDC or army or police no protect you like common men make we see if you will make the same comment or go to flash zones in the north or even the east during the peak of IPOB activities.

Nigeria is their company, they will do anything or say anything to keep it together for their benefit. Those people don’t give a Bleep about us.

Have they condemned the atrocities happening in naija? Feel safe my foot. Travel by road na

OLAADEGBU:
Johnson, who delivered the keynote address at the Imo State Economic Summit 2025 in Owerri, said he was not deterred by warnings about Nigeria’s security situation before embarking on the trip.

Egba mi o !!!!What is dis one saying??

pongwa Make e go spend few days for sambisa forest






Must he go to Sambisa? Have you also been to Sambisa despite that you are a Nigerian.

NOGRUDGES:
You once said Nigeria is fantastically corrupt, you na system person, collecting loaves of bread seriously since 19 00

That was David Cameron. Get your facts right and stop ignorant slandering of others.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Surmq5Uu0YY?si=bstryjZRghFtPCfE

nice one
We all no this only some miscreant back by baban riga people just to cash out like nija delta

ImIfeyinwaWj:
Boris Johnson should be commended for making the trip to Nigeria despite the security challenges. His presence in Imo State also underscores the growing confidence in the state and the country at large.

With 200 security details, how many does your father in the village move around with?

The extortionist have come back again to collect their fair share

Trump is NOT moved by wasted politicians who believe in self-delusion.

USA is coming and coming hard.

ImIfeyinwaWj:
Boris Johnson should be commended for making the trip to Nigeria despite the security challenges. His presence in Imo State also underscores the growing confidence in the state and the country at large.

One person that talk with our sentiment like Obingo


I respect you salute you
Let me look for a jam for you

ImIfeyinwaWj:
Boris Johnson should be commended for making the trip to Nigeria despite the security challenges.

His presence in Imo State also underscores the growing confidence in the state and the country at large.

Don’t serving American presidents and other countries’ leaders visit Afghanistan and Ukraine despite being war torn

Do such visits underscore the growing confidence in Afghanistan and Ukraine?

Why Dem no carry the idiot go Katsina or Sambiza

SmartPolician:
Imo State governors know how to bring big names to the state. At the end of their tenure, they don't leave any meaningful projects behind.

Hope Uzodinma wasted an entire tenure living in Abuja. 2 years to end of 8 years, he wakes up from his slumber and started a project marathon.

This was how Rochas kept inviting big names, including President Zuma of South Africa. He would litre the state with inferior projects, most of which have collapsed now.

Misplaced priorities in spending money to invite the big names instead of making the state big with basic government services and public utilities provided by well paid workers

He should stay in




Borno, Benue Kwara and Kogi for five years and t

aking


public transport

SpaceX:
Take him to sokoto and let him move around without security

You are not safe in Anambra on Mondays too.

bigeliot:
Nigeria is their company, they will do anything or say anything to keep it together for their benefit. Those people don’t give a Bleep about us.

Have they condemned the atrocities happening in naija? Feel safe my foot. Travel by road na

How long are you people going to keep deluding yourselves with the bolded? The Brits cleared off in 1960 and handed over to you.

Since then, and for 65 years, you haven't been able to get it right as educated/grown adult should.

Yet, without shame, you feel comfortable blaming the Brits for all your woes today rather than admit you and your leaders are lazy, corrupt and mentally incompetent.

If you had the capacity you'd have developed Nigeria spectacularly as Singapore , a former colony of the UK, has evolved to be acclaimed one of the best and most developed place to live in the world today.

Instead your penchant for playing victim and making excuses is coping mechanism, even if you cannot see it, that allows you dodge the fact that Nigeria is the way it is today because of Nigerians and not the Brits who aren't as concerned about you as you believe.

Accept full responsibility for your situation , own the duty to make Nigeria better, and things may begin to change.

NOGRUDGES:
You once said Nigeria is fantastically corrupt, you na system person, collecting loaves of bread seriously since 19 00

are u sure he was the one that made that statement.i doubt.

Why is nobody talking about the exchange he outline there

We give you finished products and you give us nurses doctors etc.

See say the British just dey use us do exchange as our kleptomaniac leaders dey use the country caught cruise.

We as a country are given our best brains and resources out. I dey shake my head

oil and gas, brilliant doctors, nurses, technicians, and tech geniuses from Nigeria. We are very, very grateful.”

Each man has a price. Not surprised

Britain....

They have come again!

seunoyeleyep:
Whatever rocks his boat. The original settlers ain't perfectly safe. It's even funny a foreigner is safer than real settlers.

Johnson isn't a typical politician. He is a maverick with a touch of eccentricity.

This is why he departs from what most leaders would do to declare he feels safe in Nigeria. Even if he knows parts of Nigeria he visits aren't entirely safe he'd still be complementary.

It's his way of encouraging Nigerians to feel positive about themselves and nation whereas Trump, for example, would call us "shithole nation".