NIWA confirms Anam River boat mishap that killed Junior Pope was due to human error, not mechanical failure. Passengers reportedly refused life jackets

Anam River boat mishap that claimed the life of Nollywood actor Junior Pope and four others in April 2024 was caused by human error, not mechanical failure, according to the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

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Speaking at a multi-modal transportation stakeholders forum in Abuja on Thursday, NIWA Managing Director Bola Oyebamiji revealed that preliminary investigations showed flagrant disregard for safety regulations.

“Some passengers rejected life jackets offered to them,” Oyebamiji disclosed. “There were no mechanical faults, no bad weather, or underwater obstacles—this tragedy was entirely preventable.”

The incident occurred while the late actor and crew members were returning from filming ‘Another Side of Life’, produced by Adanma, when their boat capsized around Cable Point on the Anam River, near the River Niger waterside in Asaba, Delta State.

Oyebamiji criticized such reckless behavior for undermining NIWA’s ongoing efforts to enforce safety protocols on Nigeria’s inland waterways. He also appealed to all waterway users to collaborate in spreading safety awareness.

The forum was attended by top figures including Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo, the Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, and CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema.

Junior Pope’s death sent shockwaves across Nigeria’s entertainment industry, sparking renewed calls for stricter enforcement of maritime safety regulations, especially in high-traffic filming locations.

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NIWA’s latest findings highlight a broader need for public education, stricter oversight, and cultural shifts in the use of inland waterways, as human error continues to account for a significant share of maritime tragedies in Nigeria.