A Nigerian soldier serving in the United States military has sparked widespread online debate with his pointed critique of Nigerian road infrastructure, following the tragic car accident involving world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua.
Viral Post Highlights Fatal Road Flaw
The incident, which occurred on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on December 30, 2025, resulted in the deaths of two of Joshua's friends. While Joshua and his driver survived, the accident has ignited conversations about road safety standards in Nigeria.
Taking to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the soldier, who uses the handle @Horiyourme, did not mince words. He directly addressed a critical design flaw he observed from reports and images of the crash site.
The core of his argument centered on the absence of a road shoulder—an emergency lane—on that section of the expressway. He stated that a properly designed road should have a dedicated area where drivers can safely swerve or stop during an emergency, a feature he claimed was missing and could have potentially altered the outcome of the crash.
"You Have No Idea What a Good Road Looks Like"
In his now-viral thread, the soldier challenged common Nigerian defensive responses to criticism. "If I say Nigeria has horrible roads, you'll say I'm demarketing your country," he wrote. He further expressed frustration, suggesting that prayers are misdirected towards supernatural intervention for basic amenities that should be provided by accountable governance.
His commentary grew more pointed as he explained the function of a road shoulder. "Normal road has a shoulder, a shoulder where cars don't park on… a shoulder you can easily swerve into in an emergency, just like the one that just wasted two lives," he posted. He concluded bluntly, "Yes, the road you have is horrible and it should not be a road. But I guess you have no idea what a good road looks like."
Mixed Reactions from the Online Community
The soldier's post triggered a flood of reactions, revealing a spectrum of opinions among Nigerians online.
Some users agreed with his assessment, linking the state of infrastructure to broader governance failures. User @MaziNasir commented on the contrast with life abroad, noting the availability of basic amenities like constant power and safer roads elsewhere. Another user, @Horlasco1058469, claimed that "Nigerians hate the truth, especially when it is against their interests."
However, others pushed back, shifting the blame from the road to driver behavior. User @legit_united argued, "There [are] bad roads, Yes but Nothing is wrong with the road where the accident happened." Another user, @survivor790, suggested that speeding and reckless overtaking were the primary causes, stating the road was "very ok" at the Makun stretch where the accident occurred.
The tragedy also prompted reflections on survivor's guilt and its potential impact on Anthony Joshua's career. Separate reports cited concerns that the boxer might struggle with the emotional weight of surviving while his friends perished, which could affect his future in the ring.
This incident, amplified by the candid observations of a diaspora-based soldier, has once again forced a national conversation on the dire state of Nigerian highways and the urgent need for design standards that prioritize human safety over mere asphalt.
