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Junior Pope’s death:A Result of Human Error,Not Mechanical Failure
By prince Benson Davies
The National Inland Waterways Authority has disclosed that the tragic boat accident that claimed the life of Nollywood actor Junior Pope and four others in April 2024 was due to human error, not mechanical failure.
NIWA’s Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, stated that the incident was caused by a flagrant disregard for rules and regulations guiding movement on inland waterways.
Some passengers, including Junior Pope, reportedly rejected life jackets offered to them before the fatal trip.
Oyebamiji emphasized that such actions undermine NIWA’s efforts to ensure optimum safety on waterways and called on water users to support safety awareness initiatives.
The boat capsized around Cable Point at the waterside of the River Niger in Asaba, Delta State.
Junior Pope was returning from a movie shoot for “Another Side of Life” produced by Adanma when the incident occurred.
NIWA’s findings highlight the importance of adhering to safety protocols to prevent such tragedies.
NIWA urges all water users to support safety awareness initiatives across the country to prevent avoidable deaths.
The authority emphasizes the need for boat operators and passengers to comply with laid-down guidelines to ensure safe travel on Nigeria’s waterways.
