World heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua narrowly escaped death in a tragic road accident in Ogun State, which claimed the lives of two of his close friends. The incident has sparked renewed calls for urgent highway safety reforms in Nigeria.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Offers Condolences, Highlights Systemic Failures
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, expressed deep sympathy with the international boxing icon following the fatal accident on Tuesday, December 30, 2025. In a statement, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker described the event as heart-wrenching and unacceptable.
She lamented the persistent loss of lives on Nigerian roads, attributing it to poor safety enforcement and weak emergency response systems. Akpoti-Uduaghan stated, "My heart goes out to Anthony Joshua at this very painful time. Losing two close friends in such a tragic manner is devastating." She prayed for strength for the boxer and for the peaceful repose of the departed souls.
Details of the Ghastly Ogun State Collision
The 36-year-old athlete, Anthony Joshua, sustained injuries when the Lexus SUV he was travelling in collided with a stationary truck along the expressway. The boxer and three other individuals were reportedly travelling from Lagos to Sagamu at the time of the incident. The crash resulted in the tragic death of two of Joshua's closest friends who had accompanied him to Nigeria.
This accident adds to the grim statistics of road fatalities in Nigeria, underscoring what the senator described as corridors of sorrow.
A Clarion Call for Action: Reforming Road Safety in Nigeria
Going beyond condolences, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan issued a strong demand for decisive national action. She urged the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to intensify enforcement of existing guidelines, warning that weak compliance and lax monitoring contribute significantly to fatal crashes.
"Rules without enforcement are meaningless," she asserted. "The Federal Road Safety Corps must be empowered and compelled to fully enforce road safety regulations across all highways in Nigeria, without fear or favour."
The senator proposed a multi-pronged approach to curb the menace:
- Establishment of proper vehicle rest stations and lay-bys along major highways to combat driver fatigue.
- Creation of a dedicated Highway Emergency Rescue Team equipped with ambulances and trauma care for rapid response.
- Treating road safety as a national emergency to drive meaningful policy and legislative reforms.
She emphasized that many lives are lost not just from the impact of accidents, but because help does not arrive on time. Akpoti-Uduaghan concluded by urging that this tragedy must not be another forgotten headline, but a turning point for serious highway safety reforms in Nigeria.
The senator reaffirmed her commitment to advocating for measures that prioritize the safety of all Nigerians on the roads, while again extending her condolences to Anthony Joshua and the bereaved families.
