A senior British diplomat has visited heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua in a Lagos hospital following a high-speed car crash that killed two other British citizens.
Simon Field, the Deputy Head of Mission at the British High Commission, met with the former world champion on Monday. The visit comes as British officials coordinate with Nigerian authorities to support the families of the deceased and monitor the boxer’s recovery.
The crash occurred at midday on Monday on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, a major arterial road notorious for fatal accidents.
Victims identified
Authorities have now named the two men who died when the Toyota Lexus SUV carrying the boxer collided with a stationary truck. Both were 36-year-old residents of the United Kingdom:
- Ayodele Kelvin Olu, a dual Nigerian-British citizen.
- Gami Sina, a British citizen.
The British High Commission confirmed it has made contact with the families of both men.
Political leaders ‘take charge’
The incident has drawn a massive response from Nigeria’s top political leadership. The governors of Lagos and Ogun states, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dapo Abiodun, reportedly spent over seven hours at the hospital personally supervising Mr Joshua’s care.
“As soon as I was informed, I headed straight to the hospital,” Governor Abiodun said. “We both took charge of the situation and oversaw Anthony Joshua’s care.”
Medical teams have described Mr Joshua’s condition as “stable,” and officials say they are satisfied with the quality of treatment he is receiving at the specialised facility in Lagos.
Presidential support
President Bola Tinubu has also intervened, speaking directly with Mr Joshua and his mother to offer his condolences.
In a statement, the President described the event as an “immense tragedy” that has cast a “deep shadow” over the festive season. The Inspector-General of Police and the head of Nigeria’s National Sports Commission were also among the high-ranking officials to visit the boxer’s bedside.
Investigation launched
While the medical focus remains on the survivors, a full police investigation is underway to determine the cause of the collision.
Preliminary reports from road safety officials suggested the vehicle may have been exceeding the speed limit before the impact. The Ogun State government has promised that the findings of the probe will be made public once concluded.
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