The tragic car accident involving world-renowned boxer Anthony Joshua, which resulted in the death of two of his friends, has drawn a poignant reaction from a Nigerian man living abroad who stated he was "not surprised" by the incident.
Viral Reaction Highlights Systemic Issues
In a video that quickly went viral on TikTok, a user identified as @dezlovesjesus shared his candid thoughts on the January 2026 crash. Despite being away from Nigeria for a long time, he expressed that the tragedy aligned with his expectations given the country's infrastructural challenges.
He pinpointed the poor condition of roads and the lack of adequate emergency services as critical factors. "The roads are not great, the infrastructure is not great. There isn't really any form of emergency services," he stated, explaining his lack of shock upon seeing videos of the aftermath.
A Broader Critique of National Infrastructure
Expanding on his initial statement, the man connected the accident to a wider systemic failure. He emphasized that the country lacks the necessary infrastructure not only to prevent such accidents but also to manage their consequences effectively.
"Everything that has taken place is exactly how I would expect it to happen, given that the infrastructure is not in place to handle situations like that," he said. He further lamented the absence of proper care systems that would allow citizens to heal and recover from such traumatic events within their own country.
Public Echoes Concerns in Reactions
The viral video sparked a flood of comments from other social media users, many of whom echoed the man's sentiments and added further context to the discussion on road safety.
User @Iamoubs highlighted the distressing lack of dignity in the crash's aftermath, noting, "Not just that the fact that the bodies were exposed for everyone to see no one thought to cover the bodies it’s was horrific."
Others, like @Jay, pointed to driver behavior on substandard roads, commenting, "To be honest bro they was kinda speeding when your on roads like that you gotta move slow and try be 3 steps ahead or you dying." @VampireDiary also criticized the road design, suggesting the Lagos-Ibadan expressway stretch was too narrow and questioning if drugs were involved.
Eyewitness Blames Reckless Driving
This reaction comes alongside other reports from the scene. A separate account from a Nigerian man named Adekunle Raphael alleged that the crash was caused by the driver of Joshua's friends' car, who was reportedly driving carelessly and attempting a dangerous overtake to catch up with the boxer's convoy.
Furthermore, speculation about the long-term impact on Anthony Joshua has emerged. Some observers suggest the boxer might be so affected by guilt over his friends' deaths that he could potentially quit his professional boxing career, a sentiment that has gained traction online.
The incident, occurring on the busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway, continues to serve as a grim focal point for discussions on Nigeria's road safety crisis, emergency response capabilities, and overall infrastructure decay.
