The closing days of 2025 were marked by a tragedy that sent shockwaves through Nigeria and its diaspora: a fatal road accident involving UK-based boxing superstar, Anthony Joshua. The incident, which claimed the lives of two of his close associates, Sina Ghami and Lateef Ayodele (Latz), sparked a complex national conversation that moved far beyond the immediate grief.
The Tragedy and the Swift Response
From video footage of the mangled SUV, onlookers quickly identified the trapped figure as the beloved boxer, AJ, prompting immediate rescue efforts. Despite the prompt response, his two friends had already passed away. The governments of Lagos and Ogun states mobilized resources, ensuring Joshua's swift evacuation to Duchess International Hospital in Ikeja. After treatment, he was discharged and later travelled to attend the funeral of his friends, who were laid to rest on Sunday, January 4, 2026.
A Nation Divided: Infrastructure vs. Human Responsibility
The accident triggered polarized reactions. Some voices simplistically blamed "Nigeria" and its infrastructure. However, more sober analyses countered this narrative. Ambassador Designate Reno Omokri pointed to similar high-profile accidents globally, like Princess Diana's, noting that the emergency response time for AJ was comparatively efficient.
This perspective was bolstered by broadcaster Anike-Ade Funke Treasure, who frequents the road where the crash occurred. She cautioned against solely blaming road conditions, stating, "Overspeeding kills. I ply that road often, it's a recently reconstructed road. Such a ghastly accident has no other explanation than overspeeding." This view finds support in a chilling pattern: the deaths of rapper Dagrin in 2010, comedian CD John in 2011, and music producer Chris Jeyibo in October 2025, all in similar collisions where vehicle malfunction was not the primary cause.
New Roads, Old Problems: The Imperative for Behavioral Change
While the Tinubu administration's flagship projects like the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry highways, championed by Works Minister David Umahi, represent significant infrastructural advancement, they alone cannot eliminate tragedies. The human factor remains paramount. As commentator Sayo Aluko argued, a multi-lane highway with a shoulder does not cause a catastrophic collision; speed, control, and driver judgement at the point of impact do.
This echoes the demystification found in Wole Soyinka's play, The Road, where the god Ogun is often scapegoated for accidents, absolving drivers of responsibility despite their total control over the vehicle.
The debate underscores a critical need for a dual approach: continuing infrastructure development while aggressively democratizing road safety knowledge. Agencies like the FRSC and LASTMA must intensify proactive, non-extortionate public education. Their efforts should be reinforced by non-state actors like the NURTW and RTEAN, whose grassroots reach among commercial drivers is vital.
Corporate allies, including car rental companies often used by celebrities, must also be engaged. A model for community action exists in Osun State, where the Ede ThinkTank, led by Professor Abubakar Abefe Sanusi, launched a dedicated road safety campaign following local road development, demonstrating that civic engagement can save lives.
Ultimately, as Nigeria ascends in world road ratings, the parallel mission must be to cultivate a culture of responsible road use. Highways must be pathways to better lives, not conduits to death. The right to life is supreme, and safeguarding it on our roads is a collective duty.
