A public affairs commentary on road safety, responsibility and preventable loss
By Chukwudi George Ozalla
The tragic deaths of Anthony Joshua’s close associates, strength and conditioning coach Sina Ghami and personal trainer Abdullatif Ayodele, have again forced a painful reality into national attention. It is a reality that plays out daily on Nigerian roads, where lives are cut short through reckless driving, excessive speed, distraction and a culture of silence that allows danger to go unchallenged.
Reports surrounding the crash that claimed the lives of Ghami and Ayodele pointed to reckless driving and dangerous speed. In a brief moment, two accomplished professionals, deeply valued by their families and respected within the global boxing community, were gone. Their deaths were not only a personal loss to Anthony Joshua but a painful warning of how quickly life can be erased when responsibility is abandoned behind the wheel.
Speed remains one of the deadliest habits on the road. It reduces reaction time, worsens the impact of collisions and leaves little chance for correction when things go wrong. Yet it is often treated casually, even proudly, as if saving a few minutes is worth risking human lives. This mindset continues to fuel avoidable deaths across the country.
There is also an uncomfortable truth about the everyday reality on Nigerian highways. Having had cause to sometimes travel by road, I can attest firsthand to the level of recklessness displayed by some drivers. Of particular concern are young drivers behind the wheels of articulated vehicles, who often behave as though other motorists do not matter. Smaller vehicles are treated like obstacles to be brushed aside, as if fellow road users are ants or playthings. Added to this is the growing menace of siren blaring private and official vehicles that harass, intimidate and force other motorists off the road, turning highways into zones of fear rather than shared public space.
An equally troubling issue lies with passengers. Many recognise when a driver is speeding, driving aggressively or behaving carelessly, yet they choose to stay quiet. Fear of confrontation, misplaced politeness or indifference keeps people silent while danger unfolds. There is a strong case for laws that empower and require passengers to report reckless drivers to the nearest checkpoint or road safety officials. Silence too often becomes a silent partner in tragedy.
Distraction is another deadly factor that rarely receives enough attention. Loud music inside vehicles reduces a driver’s ability to hear horns, warning signals or unusual mechanical sounds. It dulls alertness and weakens awareness of the road. Long conversations, arguments or debates between drivers and passengers also pull focus away at moments when full attention is required. Driving demands concentration, not entertainment or discussion.
Alcohol use continues to feature in road crashes, particularly during festive periods. This season has again recorded a disturbing number of accidents nationwide. Families are grieving, communities are mourning and professions are counting painful losses. Among the most distressing was the death of seven journalists of the Nigerian Television Authority NTA, who lost their lives in a road accident while returning from one of their colleagues wedding ceremony. Their deaths joined a growing list of professionals, commuters, families and breadwinners whose journeys ended suddenly on the highway.
Other recent crashes involving commercial vehicles, private cars and buses have claimed dozens of lives across several states. Many have been linked to speed, fatigue, alcohol use, poor vehicle maintenance and poor vehicle control. These incidents are not isolated events. They reflect a recurring pattern that continues unchecked.
Compounding the danger is the placement of roadblocks or toll collection points at sharp bends and poorly visible sections of highways. Such locations leave drivers with little time to respond, especially at night or on high speed routes, increasing the risk of fatal collisions. Road safety enforcement should protect lives, not expose motorists to new dangers.
The way forward requires a clear shift in attitude and policy. Speed limits must be enforced consistently, not selectively. Drivers must accept that alcohol, loud music and divided attention have no place behind the wheel. Passengers should be encouraged and legally protected to speak out or report unsafe driving without fear. Road safety agencies must reassess the positioning of checkpoints and toll points to eliminate unnecessary hazards. Public awareness campaigns must move beyond slogans and address the real behaviours that lead to crashes.
The deaths of Sina Ghami and Abdullatif Latif Ayodele, like those of the seven NTA journalists and many others lost this festive season, should not fade into statistics. They should serve as a clear warning. Reckless driving is not just a traffic offence; it is a direct assault on human life. Until drivers, passengers and authorities accept shared responsibility for safety, Nigerian roads will continue to take lives that should never have been lost. Let these frequent fatal crashes stop forthwith!
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, NEWSCOUNT
