Former British Prime minister, Boris Johnson, has expressed optimism that terrorism and bandits will be defeated in Nigeria.

He said the UK, having dealt with terrorists in the past and was ready to render help to Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.

The former UK Prime minister spoke on Monday at the 16th Anyiam-Osigwe lecture series titled ‘Rehumanising human experience.

Boris Johnson said,  “I know some of the problems that are being faced in some parts of this wonderful country and how lives are sadly being lost. These bandits and terrorists can and will be defeated and eventually law and order will prevail. The UK ever stands ready to help. But we, the UK, have certainly had our own problems with terrorists in the past and I’m proud to say that London is one of the safest big cities in the world.

“The metropolitan police are so impartial that they arrested Prince Andrew himself, the son of our late Queen when they saw him loitering in Buckingham Palace. I thought this was quite funny until a couple of years ago, the Met actually fined me, in circumstances I still find almost too petty to describe, simply for standing at my desk in the cabinet room and eating lunch.”

Johnson further said, “The UK has a population of about 66 million and Nigeria has over 200 million and still growing, how many of our people have reached their full potentials? The job of politicians is to create opportunities for people to reach their potential because not only is that morally right, but it is also the right way for the economy.

What we are seeing in both our countries is a colossal waste of human potential and all my years as Mayor of London or British Prime Minister, it has been ways to unleash the talents.”