By Ali Elias
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday ignited a wave of criticism after declaring that Nigeria is “perfectly safe,” a pronouncement many observers say glosses over the country’s grave security challenges and raises questions about his intentions for visiting at this delicate moment in the nation’s international reputation.
Johnson made the remark in Owerri while speaking at the inaugural Imo Economic Summit organised by Governor Hope Uzodimma. According to him, nothing in his brief itinerary — flying into Lagos, spending a night in a hotel, and travelling to Owerri — suggested that Nigeria was unsafe.
“I feel perfectly safe. The streets are also safe,” he told attendees, adding that he had pushed ahead with the trip despite attempts by advisers to discourage him due to fears over insecurity.
He went further to praise Nigeria’s respect for the rule of law, describing the country as ripe for investment and projecting the state of Imo as the next destination hub because of its gas reserves and expanding infrastructure.
However, Johnson’s remarks have triggered skepticism among analysts and civil society actors who questioned how a former British prime minister could so casually dismiss Nigeria’s well-documented security struggles — including kidnappings, insurgency, bandit attacks, and violent extremism affecting multiple regions.
The timing of Johnson’s visit has also raised pointed questions: Why would a former UK leader choose this moment to declare Nigeria “safe,” when the United States government is openly accusing the Nigerian state of failing to curb mass atrocities — and in some quarters, even alleging genocide?
Residents and activists have pointed out that Johnson only witnessed the most secure corridors of Nigeria — the parts deliberately polished for high-profile visitors. His experience did not include communities where families live under the threat of kidnapping, villages deserted by bandits, or regions where security forces remain locked in daily confrontations with criminal groups.
Ultimately, Johnson’s declaration raises deeper questions about whether his stance risks damaging his own credibility and Britain’s moral authority on human rights, particularly at a time when Nigeria remains under intense international scrutiny.