overview: Three major narratives dominated the final days of 2025: a tragic international incident involving a sports icon, intense political criticism over the president's visit, and a deepening national sovereignty crisis triggered by foreign military intervention.
1. Global media spotlight on Nigeria after Anthony Joshua car accident
Summary: The fatal car crash of British-Nigerian boxing star Anthony Joshua has drawn intense international media attention to Nigeria, highlighting its infrastructure and emergency response on the global stage.
Key Details:
• Incident: On December 29, a Lexus SUV carrying former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua collided with a stationary vehicle on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State.
• Casualties: Two deaths confirmed. Joshua and his driver suffered minor injuries.
• Official response: Ogun State Police and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) responded swiftly. FRSC's initial investigation cited excessive speed and wrongful overtaking as the primary cause.
• Global angle: As a British-born global sports icon with deep Nigerian heritage, Joshua's involvement has turned a local traffic incident into a major international news story, with outlets like The Guardian providing extensive coverage.
implication: Although the response was quick, this incident inadvertently highlights the ongoing challenges with road safety and infrastructure in Nigeria on the world stage.
2. President Tinubu's international trip sparks domestic political storm
Summary: President Bola Tinubu's year-end trip to Europe and Abu Dhabi has been sharply criticized by opposition parties as insensitive amid national security concerns.
Itinerary:
1. Private Leg: Year-end holidays in Europe.
2. Official phase: Attendance at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) summit in January 2026.
Criticism:
• Opposition parties (ADC, Labor Party) described the timing as “insensitive” and “devoid of empathy”, citing recent deadly bombings in Zamfara and US airstrikes. He argues that the presence of the President is necessary for national assurance and security coordination.
• Defense (Presidency and APC) described the visit as essential for global engagement, attracting investments, building security partnerships and pursuing sustainable development.
Reference amplifier criticism:
• Security background: The visit was announced following a deadly bombing in Zamfara and US counter-terrorism air strikes.
• Travel History: President Tinubu has made 46 foreign trips totaling an estimated 192 days since May 2023, making it a sensitive recurring narrative.
Implications: The debate highlights a classic political tension between the perceived demands of domestic management and the requirements of international diplomacy.
3. Sovereignty in crisis: 80 civil society groups demand resignation over US air strikes
Summary: A coalition of over 80 leading civil society organizations (CSOs), including Amnesty International Nigeria and Budgit, have strongly condemned the US Christmas Day air strikes on Nigerian soil, accusing the government of “shying responsibility” and calling for the resignation of President Tinubu and security chiefs.
Main allegations:
• Abandonment of Sovereignty: The coalition claims President Tinubu “abandoned sovereign authority” by inviting foreign military intervention without a transparent legal framework or public accountability.
• Leadership vacuum: They condemn the silence and absence of the President, service chiefs and National Assembly leadership during the crisis, leaving the Foreign Minister to defend the decision to “strike”.[s] At the core of national sovereignty.”
• Lack of transparency and civilian protection: No public information was provided on the legal basis, rules of engagement or protocols to prevent civilian harm, a “serious governance failure.”
Their demand: The statement concludes that if the leadership lacks the will or capacity to manage security constitutionally, “democratic integrity demands that they resign.”
3. Nation divided: The controversial story of America's Sokoto airstrike
Summary: The US attacks have exposed deep social and analytical cleavages within Nigeria, with conflicting narratives on justification, effectiveness and long-term consequences.
Different stories:
Expert consensus (security analysts): This action is widely viewed as a strategic mistake, which could escalate local conflicts by misidentifying the drivers of violence (economic banditry vs. ideology) and by stoking anti-American and sectarian sentiments.
Broader implications: This incident is an important test for US-Nigeria relations, with the potential to reshape Nigeria's domestic security policy and international alignment, balancing counterterrorism cooperation against respect for sovereignty.
executive Summary
Nigeria enters 2026 facing three crises of perception: global scrutiny from a celebrity mishap, domestic political conflict over leadership presence, and a fundamental challenge to its sovereignty from within and abroad. The unifying thread is the demand for accountable, transparent and present governance – whether on the highways, in the presidential villa, or in defense of the national territory. The response to these same issues will set the tone for the political and security landscape in the coming year.
