Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has urged urgent action on road safety in Nigeria after a deadly crash on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway claimed two lives and left British-Nigerian boxing champion Anthony Joshua with minor injuries.
The accident happened on Monday 29 December 2025 near the Sinoma area in Sagamu, Ogun State, when a Lexus SUV carrying Joshua and members of his team collided with a stationary truck. Joshua was taken to hospital and is reported to be stable. Long-time strength and conditioning coach Sina Ghami and personal trainer Kevin Latif Ayodele died in the crash.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan described the crash as “heart-wrenching and unacceptable”, offering condolences to Joshua and his family. She said the deaths must not be allowed to become a passing headline but should trigger substantive measures to make Nigerian highways safer.
Nigeria road safety reforms
The senator used the tragedy to press for a comprehensive approach to reducing road deaths across the country. She highlighted weak enforcement of traffic laws, poor road infrastructure and slow emergency response as factors that contribute to what she called “corridors of sorrow” on Nigeria’s major highways.
Akpoti-Uduaghan called on the Federal Road Safety Corps to intensify enforcement of traffic regulations, saying that rules without enforcement are meaningless. She also urged the federal government to establish well-equipped rest stations and lay-bys along key routes to address driver fatigue, a frequent factor in long-distance crashes.
Another core demand was the creation of a dedicated highway emergency rescue system with rapid-response ambulances and trauma units positioned along major expressways. The senator argued that timely medical intervention is often the difference between life and death, and that delayed responses routinely worsen outcomes for crash victims.
“My heart goes out to Anthony Joshua at this very painful time. Losing two close friends in such a tragic manner is devastating,” she said. “I pray that God grants him strength and comfort, and that the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace.” She added that treating road safety as a national emergency could save countless lives each year.
Road safety experts and campaigners have long urged reforms in Nigeria. The country records thousands of road fatalities annually, many of which are attributed to a combination of speeding, vehicle defects, poor road design and inadequate post-crash care. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s intervention links these systemic problems to the high-profile crash, increasing pressure on authorities to respond.
Government agencies have in recent years announced measures intended to improve highway safety, including awareness campaigns and spot checks. However, campaigners say those efforts must be backed by sustained investment in infrastructure, stronger enforcement and a coordinated emergency response network.
The senator also indicated she will pursue legislative measures aimed at prioritising road safety. That could include proposals to mandate rest facilities on major routes, strengthen penalties for dangerous driving and fund a national highway rescue programme.
For now, attention remains focused on supporting the families of the deceased and ensuring that the incident prompts more than sympathy. If followed by concrete policy changes, the calls for Nigeria road safety reforms could mark a turning point in efforts to reduce the toll of preventable accidents on the country’s highways.
Key Takeaways:
- Nigeria road safety reforms demanded after a crash on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway that killed two members of Anthony Joshua’s team.
- Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan urged stronger FRSC enforcement, dedicated rest stops and a rapid highway emergency rescue system.
- The incident highlights persistent infrastructure and enforcement gaps that contribute to thousands of preventable deaths annually.
