By Amofokhai Williams
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has extended heartfelt sympathies to British-Nigerian boxing champion Anthony Joshua following a fatal car crash on the notorious Lagos-Ibadan Expressway that claimed two lives and left the former heavyweight titleholder injured.
In a personal message posted on X (formerly Twitter), President Tinubu addressed Joshua directly as “AJ,” acknowledging the immense tragedy during the festive season.
“This immense tragedy casts a deep shadow on this season,” Tinubu wrote, adding that “I sympathise with you and your family as you bear the emotional weight of this unfortunate incident.”
The president praised Joshua’s qualities as a sportsman-courage, discipline, and love for Nigeria, calling him a “source of national pride.”
He prayed for Joshua‘s speedy recovery and repose for the souls of the deceased.
The accident occurred around 11 a.m. local time near the Sagamu Interchange in Ogun State, when a Lexus SUV carrying Joshua reportedly suffered a tire burst, causing the driver to lose control and collide with a stationary truck.
Joshua, seated in the back, sustained minor injuries and was evacuated to a hospital in Lagos, where medical assessments confirmed he is stable and does not require emergency intervention.
Two passengers, described in preliminary reports as male foreign nationals, were killed in the crash.
The Ogun State Police Command has launched an investigation, with Commissioner Lanre Ogunlowo attributing the incident to the burst tire.
Joshua, 36, was in Nigeria on a holiday visit to his ancestral hometown of Sagamu following his sixth-round knockout victory over Jake Paul on December 19 in Miami. The trip included reconnecting with family and cultural roots in Ogun State.
The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a vital artery connecting Nigeria’s commercial hub to the southwest, is infamous for fatal accidents due to heavy traffic, poor road conditions, and parked vehicles along its stretches.
Reactions poured in from the boxing world, including from Jake Paul, who posted: “Life is much more important than boxing. I am praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident.”
Really sad