The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has officially attributed the tragic 2024 boat accident that claimed the life of Nollywood actor Junior Pope and four others to human error—not mechanical failure. During a transportation stakeholders’ forum held in Abuja on July 31, NIWA’s Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, revealed that the victims ignored vital safety rules before the fatal incident on Anam River in Anambra State.
According to Oyebamiji, some passengers rejected life jackets offered to them before boarding. “It wasn’t engine failure or poor weather — it was a complete disregard for established waterway safety protocols,” he stated. The tragic oversight has been described as a serious blow to NIWA’s ongoing efforts to ensure safety on Nigeria’s waterways.
The event was attended by notable figures including Minister Festus Keyamo, Air Peace boss Allen Onyema, and heads of key safety and meteorological agencies. The accident occurred in April 2024 while the victims were returning from a movie shoot titled Another Side of Life. Their boat capsized near Cable Point in Asaba, Delta State.
NIWA has urged all Nigerians to take water safety seriously and help spread awareness to prevent further loss of lives.
