The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has issued a preliminary report on the boat accident involving actor Junior Pope and 11 Nollywood movie production crew members on the Anambra River.
According to the report, the boat driver was not certified to operate the vessel, and the fibre boat was not registered with the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).
The boat was carrying 12 passengers and one driver, exceeding its capacity.
The NSIB report revealed that the boat driver was distracted by the rowdiness on board and failed to maintain a proper lookout.
The high-speed boat collided with a crossing canoe after its occupant jumped out upon seeing the rapidly approaching vessel.
The collision caused the boat to capsize, throwing all occupants into the Anam River.
The incident resulted in five people being fatally injured, and seven were rescued. Only one passenger on board the boat wore a life jacket, which they had brought themselves, as the operator did not provide life jackets to others.
The rescue operation was delayed due to the absence of trained divers.
During a briefing on the release of the first quarter 2024 investigation reports on air and marine transportation incidents in Abuja, the Bureau’s Director of Transport and Investigation, Engr Abdullahi Babanya, alongside NSIB Director General Captain Alex Badeh, disclosed these findings.
The Bureau also released four investigation reports and twenty safety recommendations.
In its safety recommendations, the Bureau urged NIWA to ensure that all commercial boats (carrying goods or passengers) are registered and that adequate safety measures are implemented and enforced on inland waterways.
They also recommended training local fishermen and boat association members as rescue divers to enable prompt rescue operations in future incidents.