Italian-Nigerian singer and songwriter Charles Onyekachi Onyeabor has shared a candid reflection on Nigeria’s persistent challenges following the recent road accident involving world boxing champion Anthony Joshua.
The tragic incident occurred along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, claiming the lives of two of Joshua’s associates, while the boxer narrowly escaped death.
In an Instagram post, Onyeabor expressed relief that Joshua survived and offered condolences to the families of the victims.
“This Anthony Joshua situation got me thinking out loud once again. Thank God he is alive, and sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their lives,” he wrote.
The musician used the incident to examine broader issues in Nigeria, questioning the country’s progress despite decades of promises for improvement.
“Whenever I say that Nigeria may never get better, people think I’m trying to downgrade the country or talk it down. But this is not about hate — it’s about reality. I have lived outside Nigeria for over two decades. Instead of improving, the situation back home has actually gotten worse,” Onyeabor said.
He lamented the tendency of Nigerians to react defensively when confronted with uncomfortable truths.
“The most painful part is this: anytime you try to state the obvious about Nigeria’s problems, or when a foreigner speaks the truth, Nigerians don’t reflect, they attack, insult, and troll the person. We are very good at comparing ourselves against each other, but very bad at comparing our country with other countries,” he noted.
Onyekachi criticized the nation’s preoccupation with individual achievements rather than systemic reform.
“We compare Burna Boy, Davido, and Wizkid every day, forgetting that all three are rich, successful, and unique Nigerian artists. We argue about who has a Grammy and who doesn’t. But we refuse to compare Nigeria itself with other nations,” he said.
Highlighting infrastructural deficiencies, he added:
“Why don’t we compare a country with no constant electricity, poor roads, bad hospitals, unreliable emergency services, lack of clean water, and inadequate basic amenities, with countries where these things are standard?”
The singer also condemned tribalism, religious division, online insults, and internal conflicts that detract from holding systems accountable.
“Until we learn to accept truth, stop being defensive, and start demanding accountability from our institutions rather than worshipping individuals, nothing will change,” Onyeabor concluded.
He clarified that his comments stem from observation, not bitterness, and expressed doubt about Nigeria’s ability to improve under the current circumstances.
“This is not hate. This is not bitterness. This is an observation. As things stand today, it is hard to see Nigeria truly getting better again,” he wrote.
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