According to Bola Oyebamiji, the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), the tragic boat accident on the Anam River in Anambra State, which claimed the life of beloved Nollywood actor Junior Pope along with four crew members in April 2024, was entirely avoidable and resulted from human negligence, rather than machine failure or environmental factors.
Speaking at the Multi-Modal Transportation Stakeholders’ Forum held in Abuja, Oyebamiji addressed the ongoing concerns and speculation surrounding the incident. He stated that the fatal mishap was due to a “flagrant disregard for safety regulations.”
“It was not a mechanical failure, nor were there any environmental impediments or weather challenges; it was purely a disregard for the rules and regulations governing inland waterway movement,” he explained.
Oyebamiji revealed that some passengers on board the ill-fated boat refused to wear life jackets—essential safety equipment that could have saved their lives. “Such decisions,” he emphasized, “undermine NIWA’s efforts to promote a culture of safety across Nigeria’s inland waterways.”
The late actor, Junior Pope Odonwodo, was returning from a film location for a project titled *Another Side of Life*, produced by Adanma Luke, when the boat he was on capsized near Cable Point at the River Niger waterfront in Asaba, Delta State. Eyewitnesses reported that the boat was overloaded and that many passengers were not wearing life jackets, with some refusing them due to discomfort or disregard for safety regulations.
The vessel, frequently used for film-related commutes, reportedly operated without strict adherence to NIWA safety standards.
Oyebamiji stressed that this incident serves as a sobering reminder of the potential consequences when waterway safety rules are ignored. “We are working tirelessly to enforce regulations, but we need the cooperation of all stakeholders—boat operators, film producers, and passengers—to ensure that lives are not needlessly lost,” he said.