President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed his sympathy to world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua following a tragic road accident that claimed two lives.
President's Message of Condolence
The incident occurred on Monday, December 29, 2025, along the notoriously dangerous Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State. While Joshua survived the crash, two foreign nationals lost their lives.
In a statement issued on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, @officialABAT, President Tinubu described the event as an immense tragedy that casts a deep shadow on the yuletide season. He extended his deep sympathies to Joshua and his family, bearing the emotional weight of the unfortunate incident.
The President praised Joshua for his courage, discipline, and unwavering love for Nigeria, qualities that have made him a source of national pride. Tinubu urged unity, stating, "In moments like this, we must encourage one another as brothers and sisters with a shared destiny." He concluded with prayers for strength, wisdom, and grace for the boxing champion during this painful period.
Public Reaction and Calls for Action
The presidential message sparked a wave of reactions from Nigerian citizens on social media, with many shifting focus from the celebrity involved to systemic national issues.
User @mr_chiboi criticized the priority of words over action, noting, "Nigeria, where words come faster than action." Another user, @GideonToba, pleaded for tangible improvements: "Please please please, fix the healthcare/emergency system, fix the roads, fix Nigeria."
@djokaymegamixer highlighted the lack of functional emergency trauma centres and 24-hour surveillance on the expressway, questioning if non-celebrity victims would receive similar presidential attention. However, some, like @Kryptotajeer, cautioned against solely blaming infrastructure, pointing out that accidents involve multiple factors like excessive speed and driver error, as indicated by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
FRSC Report on the Accident Cause
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) provided preliminary details on the causes of the crash involving Anthony Joshua. Olusegun Ogungbemide, the Assistant Corps Marshal Corps Public Education Officer, shared the information.
While the specific causes mentioned in the original report were not detailed here, the FRSC typically cites factors such as wrongful overtaking, speed violations, and driver error in accidents on that corridor. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway remains one of the busiest and most perilous highways in Nigeria, with frequent fatal crashes drawing public outrage over safety standards.
The accident has once again turned the national spotlight on the dire state of road safety and emergency response systems in the country, prompting calls for leadership to move beyond sympathetic statements to implementing lasting solutions.
