Imo Summit: Boris Johnson says Nigeria is safe, praises Uzodimma

Former British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, says he feels completely safe in Nigeria despite the negative security reports he encountered before his visit to the country.

Johnson made the remarks on Thursday in Owerri, the Imo State capital, while speaking at the Imo State Economic Summit 2025 organised by Governor Hope Uzodimma.

He said although he had read warnings about possible security challenges in Nigeria, he was determined to proceed with the trip.

According to him, his experience in Owerri has proven that impressions about the country are often exaggerated.

“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.’ And I said, ‘Well, I am going to go anyway.’

“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,” Johnson said.

Johnson commended Governor Uzodimma for his ambition to provide 24-hour electricity across Imo State, describing the initiative as central to economic transformation.

He added that Artificial Intelligence (AI) would play a major role in helping the state achieve sustainable and clean energy.

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

Reflecting on Nigeria–UK relations, the former prime minister said both countries maintain deep historic and cultural ties, strengthened by the exchange of skilled professionals over the years.

“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.

“We are very grateful. We send you former UK prime ministers, and you send us future UK prime ministers in the form of Kemi Badenoch,” he said.

Vice President Kashim Shettima represented President Bola Tinubu at the summit, which was attended by former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; as well as several governors and dignitaries.

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