- A year after the boat accident that killed Nollywood actor Junior Pope Odonwodo and four others, new details have emerged.
- The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has released findings on the April 2024 incident.
- The accident occurred on the River Niger in Asaba, Delta State.
A year after the devastating boat accident that claimed the life of Nollywood star Junior Pope Odonwodo and four others, fresh revelations have emerged about the real cause of the tragedy.
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has officially disclosed its findings regarding the April 2024 incident, which occurred on the River Niger in Asaba, Delta State. The late actor was returning from a movie shoot titled Another Side of Life when the boat capsized near Cable Point.
The heartbreaking event left the entertainment industry in shock, with fans and colleagues mourning the untimely loss. Recently, the actor’s widow celebrated their son’s graduation with an emotional tribute to the late star, rekindling public memory of the tragic day.
During a multi-modal transportation forum in Abuja, NIWA Managing Director Bola Oyebamiji clarified that the fatal mishap was not due to mechanical failure, bad weather, or waterway obstacles. Instead, it resulted from human negligence, Daily Post reported.
Oyebamiji explained that several passengers on the ill-fated boatsome of whom lost their lives ignored safety rules by refusing to wear the life jackets provided.
“It was not mechanical failure, not impediments in the water or weather challenges. It was purely a flagrant disregard for rules and regulations guiding movement on the inland waterways,” he stated.
The disclosure has reignited public discussions about recurring water transport tragedies in Nigeria and the urgent need for stricter compliance with safety protocols.
NIWA has since urged boat operators and passengers to prioritize safety and adhere strictly to all laid-down guidelines to prevent further avoidable disasters on the nation’s rivers and waterways.
