By Elias Ali
British heavyweight boxing star Anthony Joshua is recovering in hospital after a road accident on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway that claimed the lives of two men travelling with him, once again drawing attention to the deadly mix of speed, road design and weak enforcement on one of the Nigeria’s busiest highways.
The crash occurred on Monday morning along the Berger–Sagamu axis of the expressway, a stretch widely regarded by motorists as deceptively safe due to its modern design. The road runs as an eight-lane expressway from Berger through Sagamu before narrowing to six lanes towards Ibadan, a transition that traffic experts say often encourages overspeeding and risky overtaking.
Joshua, 36, a former two-time world heavyweight champion, was said to have sustained only minor injuries and is in stable condition. Two other occupants escaped unhurt. However, two men identified as Kevin Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami died in the collision.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said preliminary investigations suggest that the Lexus Jeep was travelling beyond the legally prescribed speed limit and lost control during an overtaking manoeuvre before crashing into a stationary truck parked by the roadside.
“Excessive speed and wrongful overtaking are among the leading causes of fatal road crashes on Nigerian highways,” the FRSC said, adding that five adult males were involved in the incident.
Images released by the agency and videos circulating on social media showed the wreckage and the aftermath. In one clip, Joshua is seen shirtless in the backseat of another vehicle, while in another he is helped out of the damaged car by bystanders.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu confirmed that he had spoken personally with the boxer following the incident. In a post on X, the President said he conveyed his condolences over the deaths of Joshua’s “two close associates” and wished him a speedy recovery.
Joshua was in Nigeria on holiday less than two weeks after recording a sixth-round knockout victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami, his 29th win from 33 professional fights.
Beyond the high-profile nature of the victim, the accident has renewed criticism of road safety enforcement. Despite its expanded lanes and smooth surface, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has remained notorious for fatal crashes, many linked to excessive speed.
Motorists and safety advocates say the road’s design encourages dangerous driving, while the Federal Road Safety Corps, mandated to enforce speed limits, is often accused by road users of overlooking violations and focusing instead on extorting money from motorists rather than preventing accidents.
Jake Paul reacted to the incident on X, writing: “Praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident. Life is much more important than boxing.”