Entertainment
Boat Driver Transporting Late Junior Pope, Other Actors Not Certified – NSIB
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released a preliminary report on the boat accident which involved several Nollywood actors, including late Junior Pope in Anambra recently.
The report stated that the boat driver was not certified.
This information was disclosed during a press briefing on Friday where the NSIB presented four reports, including two final aviation incident reports, one preliminary aviation incident report, and one preliminary marine accident report, along with 20 safety recommendations.
BIZTELLERS reports that the tragic incident took place on April 10, 2024, as the boat was ferrying 12 actors and crew members along the Anam River in Anambra State.
The accident led to the unfortunate loss of five passengers, among them the renowned Nollywood actor Mr. Paul Odonwodo, widely recognized as Junior Pope.
Among those who tragically perished in the incident were Ms. Abigail Frederick, Mr. Precious Oforum, and Mr. Joseph Anointing.
Engr. Abdullahi Babanya, Director of Transport Investigation, presented the preliminary findings during the briefing, revealing that the speed boat capsized, throwing all occupants into the Anam River.
Regrettably, five passengers sustained fatal injuries, while seven were rescued alive.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) was not formally notified but learned of the accident through social media channels. Subsequently, investigators from the Enugu Regional office of NSIB were dispatched to the accident site on April 12, 2024.
According to the NSIB, initial findings revealed several critical issues: the boat driver lacked certification, the fiber boat was not registered with the National Inland Waterways Authority, and it was carrying 12 passengers along with one boat driver.
The director said, “There was only one person on the wooden fishing canoe. This rowdiness in the boat distracted the driver and he was not looking out as required. The boat was on high speed and the crossing canoe was moving at a much slower speed.
“The only occupant of the canoe, on sighting the fast approaching boat jumped into the river and escaped; The boat collided with the canoe at a high speed which resulted in the boat capsizing and all persons onboard were flung into Anam River.”
As per the preliminary report, while five passengers tragically succumbed to their injuries, the remaining seven passengers along with the driver survived the crash.
He said “Only one passenger on the outboard engine fibre boat was wearing a life jacket. The only passenger wearing a life jacket came with it and was not provided by the operator.
“The passenger wearing the life jacket was one of the survivors. The boat was fitted with an outboard engine. There was no manifest of passengers and persons onboard the boat. Rescue operation was not timely and there were no trained divers around to assist in the operation.”
The bureau’s safety recommendations emphasized the necessity for the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to guarantee the registration of all boats involved in commercial activities, encompassing both goods and passenger transportation within the national inland waterways.
Moreover, NIWA was urged to ensure the effective implementation and enforcement of comprehensive safety measures across inland waterways.
Award-winning Nigerian singer and activist, Yemi Alade has accused Cool FM Nigeria and Clout Africa of blacklisting her music after she failed to perform at an event organized by the platforms in December 2023.
The singer, in a series of tweets on Thursday night, alleged that her music has been removed from the stations’ playlists for nearly a year, despite her efforts to resolve the misunderstanding.
Alade explained that she was invited by Cool FM to perform at their December event but couldn’t attend.
According to her, she apologized for her absence in January 2024 but faced a cold reception from the management.
She claims this eventually led to her entire music catalogue being banned from the station’s playlists.
“Mr Serge and Mr Joseph, this life is not hard like that. WE SEE YOU… I SEE YOU @cloutafrica @CoolFMNigeria. This world is a small village. My God will fight for me… Una dey form gatekeepers in 2024,” she tweeted, referring to Cool FM and Clout Africa executives Serge Noujaim and Joseph Adamu.
Alade expressed shock at what she described as a deliberate attempt to sabotage her career by refusing to play her songs. She accused the station of barring both her old and new music from the airwaves.
READ MORE: NANTA Champions Nigeria’s Tourism Revival With ₦742m Investment
“Since December 2023. I personally reached out in January. You are still refusing to play my music and giving my team a hard time. You’re not gatekeepers, and you are not God, Mr Serge Noujaim and Mr Joseph Adamu,” she wrote.
She further criticized the lack of communication from the management regarding the issue.
“The common decency to reach out and clear out any misunderstanding borne out of sheer carelessness on your path for a whole year, and your next move is to place an embargo on my songs? Remove my whole catalogue,” she added.
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has congratulated his nephew and global music icon, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido on the occasion of his birthday, describing him as a superstar Osun State is proud of.
This was revealed in a statement by his Spokesperson Olawale Rasheed, where he cited Gov Aeleke as pointing to Davido’s consistency, energy and passion yielding the result he has recorded not only in his music career but also in his life as a person.
Gov Adeleke, stated Rasheed, prayed for progress, more success and achievement for Davido, while commending his continuous outreach to the orphanages and less privileged, which he described as ‘a noble act every blessed hand in Nigeria must emulate’.
ALSO READ: Adeleke Represents SW On Ad Hoc Committee on Nat’l Electrification Plan
He said, ” I want to rejoice with my nephew, David Adeleke, Davido, on the occasion of his 32nd birthday, I am very happy we are all alive to witness it.
“Davido is a global super star that Osun State is very proud of. The consistency, energy and passion he has inserted into building his music career is evident in the result he has recorded not only in his career but also in his life as a person.
“I pray for him for progress, more success and achievement in long life, prosperity, sound health and mind.
“I equally want to commend his continuous outreach to the orphanages and less privileged. I must say that this is a noble act every blessed hand in Nigeria must emulate.
“Once again, Happy Birthday to Davido”.
Afrobeats sensation Wizkid has unveiled his highly anticipated sixth studio album, Morayo, released today (Nov. 22) via Starboy Entertainment and RCA Records.
The album, whose title translates to “I see joy” in Yoruba, is an emotional tribute to his late mother, Juliana Morayo Balogun, who passed away in August 2023.
“Best album I ever made!! Now listen! It’s only up from here!” the Grammy-winning artist tweeted in July, building anticipation for the 16-track project.
Morayo features an impressive lineup of collaborations, including Brent Faiyaz on “Piece of My Heart,” Asake on “Bad Girl,” Tiakola on “Après Minuit,” Jazmine Sullivan on “Bad For You,” and Anaïs on “Slow.” The album also includes previously released singles like “Piece of My Heart,” which reached No. 4 on the U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart and No. 7 on World Digital Song Sales, and “Kese (Dance).”
Notably, Wizkid and Asake’s collaboration on “MMS” has earned a Grammy nomination for Best African Music Performance in 2025, cementing their impact on the global music stage.
READ MORE: Wizkid Unveils Morayo Album Tracklist Featuring Asake
The tracklist for Morayo includes:
1. Troubled Mind
2. Karamo
3. Kese (Dance)
4. Bad Girl (feat. Asake)
5. Time
6. Piece of My Heart (feat. Brent Faiyaz)
7. Break Me Down
8. Bend
9. A Million Blessing
10. Après Minuit (feat. Tiakola)
11. Bad For You (feat. Jazmine Sullivan)
12. Soji
13. Don’t Care
14. Slow (feat. Anaïs)
15. Lose
16. Pray
This marks Wizkid’s first album in three years, following More Love, Less Ego, which reached No. 2 on the World Albums chart and No. 59 on the Billboard 200. His previous projects, including the Grammy-nominated Made in Lagos (Deluxe), have solidified his place as a global music icon.
Fans can stream Morayo now and experience the evolution of Wizkid’s sound, deeply rooted in love, loss, and celebration.
Yemi Alade Accuses Cool FM, Clout Africa of Blacklisting Her Music
Gaetz Withdraws From Trumps Cabinet Nomination
Moghalu Prescribes Good Governance As Panacea To Ethnic Agitation
Davido Is Our Son, Our Pride – Gov Adeleke
NANTA Champions Nigeria’s Tourism Revival With ₦742m Investment
Adeleke Represents SW On Ad Hoc Committee on Nat’l Electrification Plan
OSSG Raises Alarm Over Murder Plot By APC Chieftain
NCC, SMEDAN, NAICOM, SEC, Others Set for SUPERNEWS SMEs Conf June 13
Sahara’s Tonye Cole resigns from GPHCDA
Oando opens ultra-modern petrol station in Lagos
Niger Delta Avengers: President Buhari Reads riot Act …considers the carrot and stick option
