A tragic road accident involving former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua occurred on Monday along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, leading to the deaths of two of his close friends and team members, Ayodele Kelvin, 36, a Nigerian-British citizen, and Gami Sina, 36, a British citizen. Joshua, a Nigerian-British boxer renowned for his courage and love for his country, sustained injuries in the collision and is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed medical facility in Lagos, where his parents have confirmed he is in stable condition.

The incident, which took place around 11 a.m. near the Sinoma area close to Sagamu, involved Joshua's Lexus SUV colliding with a stationary commercial truck. Five adult males were involved in the crash; two fatalities, one person sustaining injuries, and two others, including Joshua, escaped with minor injuries. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed their operatives carried out rescue operations, traffic control, and victim evacuation. Preliminary findings by the FRSC indicated that excessive speed and wrongful overtaking were the likely causes of the crash on what is known as one of Nigeria’s busiest highways, frequently recording fatal accidents.

The family of Anthony Joshua, including his uncle Adedamola Joshua, expressed deep shock and sadness over the incident, stating they only learned about it after receiving numerous calls from concerned individuals. "We are grateful that Anthony and the driver survived, but we are deeply saddened by the loss of two people very close to him. Our hearts go out to their families," his uncle remarked. The Sagamu community, where Joshua has strong ties, has rallied to offer support to him and the bereaved families, while the British High Commission, through its Deputy Head of Mission Simon Field, was also notified and visited the hospital.

In response to the tragedy, President Bola Tinubu, currently abroad, personally conveyed his condolences and well wishes to Anthony Joshua. He spoke by phone with Joshua, his mother, and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun. "I spoke with AJ on the phone to personally convey my condolences over the death of his two associates. I wished him well and prayed for him. He assured me that he is receiving the best care in the hospital," President Tinubu stated. He also acknowledged Joshua's status as a source of national pride, highlighting his courage, discipline, and unwavering love for Nigeria, and prayed for his speedy recovery and repose for the souls of the departed.

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, along with Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, promptly visited Joshua at the hospital, overseeing his medical care for over seven hours. Governor Abiodun assured President Tinubu that all necessary measures would be taken to ensure Joshua receives the best possible attention. Other high-ranking officials who visited the hospital included the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, demonstrating the national concern for the boxer's well-being.

The incident has also ignited public debate regarding the efficiency of emergency services and rescue systems in Nigeria. Arise TV anchor Rufai Oseni notably raised concerns on his X page, questioning the absence of ambulances and first responders at the scene of the accident. He further challenged the FRSC's claims about their 3-minute response time and their conclusions on the crash's cause, specifically regarding excessive speed, due to the perceived lack of speed cameras on the expressway. This critical commentary underscores broader issues about emergency preparedness and road safety infrastructure on major Nigerian thoroughfares.