An anonymous family member of Joshua’s spoke to the BBC about the crash and said that the news ‘came as a shock’. They added: “We are hoping for his speedy recovery and also the people who passed away – I pray for the departed to rest in peace.”
Joshua — who has spoken proudly of his Nigerian heritage in the past — was in the country to celebrate the new year following his bout against Jake Paul earlier this month.
Joshua defeated Paul in the heavyweight fight, with the Brit calling out Tyson Fury in the aftermath of the fight.
Paul broke his jaw in the Netflix-streamed fight after Joshua knocked out the YouTuber in the sixth round.
Despite winning the bout comfortably, Joshua split a whopping $184 million with Paul following the fight in Miami.
Following the crash, Paul has taken to X, formerly known as Twitter, to issue a statement.
“Life is much more important than boxing. I am praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident,” the influencer wrote.
Footage seen on social media of the crash saw a passersby helping a dazed Joshua out of the wreck.
Eyewitness stated a car collided with a stationary truck at around 11am local time on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in Makun, which local media have described as the ‘most dangerous’ road in Nigeria.
Joshua, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was one of five people involved in the incident.
Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) believe the car had been driving ‘beyond the legally prescribed speed limit’ and lost control during ‘an overtaking manoeuvre’.
“The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) wishes to confirm a fatal road traffic crash that occurred today Monday, 29 December 2025, along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway around the Sinoma area near Sagamu, Ogun State, involving a Lexus Jeep conveying world-renowned boxer, Anthony Joshua, and a stationary truck,” the FRSC statement read.