Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson cut through the noise of global security chatter on Thursday, declaring he felt “perfectly safe” during his visit to Owerri, the Imo State capital.
Speaking as the keynote guest at the Imo State Economic Summit 2025, hosted by Governor Hope Uzodimma, Johnson said he read the usual warnings before his trip, but chose to come anyway.
He turned to the audience with a grin: “Do you feel safe here today? Yes, we all feel safe. And I feel perfectly safe. Thank you, Governor, for what you are doing.”
Johnson applauded Uzodimma’s ambition to deliver 24-hour electricity across Imo, calling the plan forward-thinking and deeply aligned with global innovation trends. He predicted artificial intelligence would accelerate the governor’s vision, describing AI as “the future of clean and sustainable power.”
He also celebrated the historic exchange between Nigeria and the UK—doctors, creatives, tech minds, and even political talent: “We send you former prime ministers; you send us future ones like Kemi Badenoch.”
The summit drew Vice President Kashim Shettima, Ban Ki-moon, Aliko Dangote, and several governors—signaling Imo’s growing influence as Nigeria navigates fresh security and economic challenges.
