Natasha Condoles With Anthony Joshua, Calls for Immediate Road Safety Reforms

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, has extended heartfelt condolences to world-renowned boxing champion Anthony Joshua following a tragic road accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his closest friends and team members.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the senator described the incident as “heart-wrenching and unacceptable,” highlighting the ongoing loss of lives on Nigerian highways due to inadequate safety enforcement and delayed emergency responses.

“My heart goes out to Anthony Joshua at this very painful time,” the Senator said. “Losing two close friends in such a tragic manner is devastating. I pray that God grants him strength and comfort, and that the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace.”

Beyond expressing sympathy, the Senator used the unfortunate incident to renew her call for decisive national action on road safety, stressing that preventable accidents continue to rob families of loved ones across the country.

“Nigerian highways have become corridors of sorrow,” she stated. “This tragedy once again reminds us that road safety in Nigeria is not optional; it is a matter of life and death.”

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan urged the Federal Road Safety Corps to intensify the enforcement of existing road safety guidelines, warning that weak compliance and lax monitoring have contributed significantly to fatal crashes nationwide.

“Rules without enforcement are meaningless,” she said. “The Federal Road Safety Corps must be empowered and compelled to fully enforce road safety regulations across all highways in Nigeria, without fear or favour.”

The Senator also called on the Federal Government to establish proper vehicle rest-in stations and lay-bys along major highways to curb fatigue-related accidents, particularly among long-distance drivers.

“No driver should be forced to drive endlessly without a safe place to rest,” Akpoti-Uduaghan noted. “Well-equipped vehicle rest stations must be deliberately created across our highways to reduce exhaustion-induced crashes.”

In addition, she advocated the creation of a dedicated Highway Emergency Rescue Team, equipped with ambulances, trauma care units, and rapid response personnel to attend to accident victims in real time.

“Many lives are lost not only because of accidents but because help does not arrive on time,” she said.

“Nigeria urgently needs a functional highway emergency rescue system that can respond within minutes, not hours.”

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan concluded by urging policymakers to treat road safety as a national emergency, stressing that meaningful reforms would save thousands of lives annually.

“This tragedy should not be another headline we forget tomorrow,” she added. “It must be a turning point for serious highway safety reforms in Nigeria.”

The Senator reaffirmed her commitment to advocating legislative and policy measures that prioritise the safety of Nigerians on the nation’s roads while once again extending her condolences to Anthony Joshua and the bereaved families.