The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has revealed that the tragic boat mishap that claimed the lives of Nollywood actor Junior Pope and four others on the Anam River in Anambra State in 2024 was caused by human error rather than mechanical failure.
The disclosure was made by NIWA Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, during a multi-modal transportation stakeholders forum held in Abuja on Thursday.
According to Oyebamiji, some of the passengers on board the ill-fated boat had rejected life jackets offered to them prior to the accident, a decision he described as critical in the fatal outcome.
He emphasized that such negligence undermines the agency’s ongoing efforts to ensure maximum safety on the nation’s waterways.
Oyebamiji further called on all waterway users to support NIWA in raising public awareness and promoting safety compliance, noting that collective responsibility is key to preventing future tragedies.
