The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has finally revealed the true cause of the tragic boat accident that claimed the life of beloved Nollywood actor, Junior Pope, alongside four crew members in April 2024. Contrary to early speculations of equipment malfunction or bad weather, NIWA has now confirmed that the fatal incident was a result of human error and disregard for safety protocols.
NIWA’s Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, disclosed this during a multi-modal transportation stakeholders’ forum held in Abuja on Thursday. Addressing industry experts and government officials, Oyebamiji emphasized that the boat mishap on the Anam River in Anambra State had nothing to do with mechanical failure or environmental conditions.
“It was not mechanical failure, not impediments in the water or weather challenges, but purely a flagrant disregard for rules and regulations guiding movement on the inland waterways,” Oyebamiji stated.
According to him, some of the passengers aboard the ill-fated boat had reportedly refused to wear life jackets that were offered to them before departure—a decision that proved fatal. Oyebamiji lamented that such negligence continues to hamper NIWA’s safety enforcement efforts on Nigeria’s inland waterways.
He further called on the public and waterway users to take personal responsibility and support ongoing awareness campaigns aimed at preventing avoidable deaths. “Safety on our waterways is a shared responsibility,” he added.
Present at the stakeholders’ forum were notable dignitaries including Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo; Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau; Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency; and CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema.
Junior Pope, whose full name was Pope Obumneme Odonwodo, tragically lost his life while returning from the set of a movie titled Another Side of Life, produced by Adanma Luke. The incident occurred when the boat capsized at Cable Point along the River Niger in Asaba, Delta State.
The tragic loss sent shockwaves across the Nigerian film industry, sparking debates about safety on movie sets, particularly during riverine location shoots. The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) later suspended Adanma Luke, although that suspension has since been lifted.
The confirmation from NIWA brings clarity and fresh urgency to the calls for improved regulation and strict adherence to safety standards on Nigeria’s inland waterways.
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