The National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP, has debunked widespread social media claims alleging a delayed emergency response in the road traffic accident involving world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
In a statement signed by its National President, Mayor Oki O. Samson, NAOSNP said verified eyewitness accounts and preliminary findings show that officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, arrived at the crash scene near Makun, Sagamu, Ogun State, within three minutes of the incident.
The association described as misleading the viral narratives portraying the crash as evidence of institutional failure and a collapsed emergency response system in Nigeria.
According to NAOSNP, FRSC operatives were already at the scene while Anthony Joshua was still trapped in his vehicle, with emergency response efforts commencing immediately. Eyewitnesses reportedly assisted alongside FRSC officials before additional security agencies arrived.
The statement noted that the boxer was conveyed to a hospital using a security Hilux escort vehicle that was part of his convoy, following coordination by FRSC personnel. By the time ambulances from Lagos and Ogun States were mobilised, Joshua had already been evacuated for medical attention.
NAOSNP further disclosed that personnel of the Nigeria Police Force arrived shortly after, adding that the entire emergency response sequence occurred within minutes, contrary to claims of prolonged delays circulating online.
Official reports, the association said, confirmed that the two victims of the crash, Kevin ‘Lateef’ Ayodele and Sina Ghami, died instantly from collision trauma linked to excessive speed, and not due to any failure in emergency response as alleged.
The association expressed concern that unverified posts by social media users, influencers, and some high-profile Nigerians had fueled international media narratives portraying Nigeria as a failing state.
“Much of the outrage was driven by speculation rather than verified facts,” NAOSNP stated, warning that such actions undermine public trust, demoralise first responders, and damage the country’s global image.
NAOSNP confirmed that Anthony Joshua is currently in stable condition and receiving medical care, adding that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu personally reached out to the boxer and his mother, while Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun visited them.
The association urged Nigerians to act responsibly during emergencies by prioritising safety, alerting relevant authorities, avoiding crowding accident scenes, and refraining from filming victims or spreading unverified information.
It reminded the public that emergency lines 112 and 767 remain operational in Lagos, connecting callers to coordinated emergency response services.
While acknowledging that Nigeria’s emergency systems require continuous improvement, NAOSNP stressed that they are neither absent nor broken, urging citizens and the media to report incidents responsibly and allow verified information to guide public discourse.