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$130bn Insured Losses Recorded Globally In 2022, Says Aon

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Aon plc has published its 2023 Weather, Climate and Catastrophe Insight report, which identifies global natural disaster and climate trends to help make better decisions to manage volatility and enhance global resilience. The report reveals that natural disasters caused a $313 billion global economic loss during the 12-month period under review – 4 percent above the 21st-century average – $132 billion of which was covered by insurance.

Data showed that 2022 was the fifth costliest year on record for insurers, with approximately $50-55 billion of the global insured loss total resulting from Hurricane Ian in the United States – the second-costliest natural catastrophe in history from an insurance perspective, surpassed only by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which resulted in nearly $100 billion in insured losses on a price-inflated basis.

The report also highlights that approximately 31,300 people lost their lives due to global natural catastrophe events in 2022. The total number of fatalities remains below average for now 12 years in a row; however, more than 19,000 of the fatalities were heat-related deaths in Europe alone, primarily as a result of heatwaves.

While a majority of total losses in 2022 were left uninsured, the 58 percent “protection gap” was one of the lowest on record, highlighting a positive shift in how businesses are navigating volatility through risk mitigation, and how insurers are providing further protection to underserved communities through access to capital.

“This report explores the events and costs of catastrophes and natural disasters in 2022 that created a staggering amount of economic loss,” said Greg Case, CEO of Aon. “But this data also highlights a tremendous opportunity for us to continue to better serve clients. By working together on scalable solutions, we will not only mitigate risk, but bring together public, private and societal forces to accelerate innovation, protect underserved communities and strengthen the economy.”

While technological innovation has allowed for better insight as catastrophes unfold and faster and more thorough assessments of damages after an event, the Aon study examines resilience and the ability to overcome climate-related consequences – not only for physical risks, but in areas like the health of the workforce, reiterating the need to build multi-faceted strategies that account for climate change risk mitigation on all fronts.

Further findings of the 2023 Weather, Climate and Catastrophe Insight report include:

421 notable natural disaster events were recorded in 2022, higher than the 21st century average of 396.
75 percent of global insured losses were recorded in the United States, which was higher than the average of 60 percent.
Windstorm Eunice was the costliest individual European windstorm since 2010, with $3.4 billion in insured losses. Widespread hailstorms in France contributed to the second-highest natural disaster payouts for the country on record of €6.9 billion ($7.4 billion).
Droughts and heatwaves severely impacted Europe, the United States, China and other regions and global insurance payouts for the drought peril were the second highest on record, at $12.6 billion globally.
Flood losses in Australia broke the historical record as La Niña conditions persisted for a third year and Sydney recorded the highest annual rainfall.
Monsoonal floods in Pakistan had a far-reaching humanitarian impact on the country. In a summary of the 2022 monsoon season, the Pakistan Meteorological Department noted that country-wide rainfall from July to September was 175 percent above average.
Both severe drought conditions and a prolonged rainy season in different regions of Latin America reduced agricultural crop yield across the region.
“The devastation that disasters caused around the world demonstrate the need for wider adoption of risk mitigation strategies, including better disaster management and warning systems that improve resilience,” said Michal Lörinc, head of Catastrophe Insight at Aon. “While impacts of climate change become increasingly visible around the world, it is the socioeconomic aspects, demographics and wealth distribution that remain a major driver of financial loss. Data in this report will help guide organizations to not only enhance their own risk mitigation but take action to close the protection gap globally to better protect the communities in which we live and work.”

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Emir Charges Insurers To Meet Obligations Adequately

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The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero has urged the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to ensure insurance obligations are adequately met by the insurers, especially when the need to pay claims arises.

The Emir, who gave this charge when the Management of NAICOM led by the Commissioner for Insurance, Olorundare Sunday Thomas paid a courtesy visit to the Emir’s Palace in Kano on Tuesday, also urged Nigerians to embrace insurance as a way of relieving loss, especially in businesses and property loss.

He reiterated that insurance is an important aspect of human life as extensive research has shown that insurance is not conflicting with religious belief, especially with the coming of Takaful insurance.

The Emir equally commended the leadership of the Commission for the giant strides and efforts in developing the Nigerian insurance market.

He further thanked the Commission for the visit and promised to support insurance deepening in the country, even as he assured that he would consider the invitation to the National Insurance Conference and will personally attend the conference.

The Commissioner thanked the royal father for the warm reception and his acceptance to personally attend the National Insurance Conference scheduled for October 22 – 24, 2023, in Abuja.

The Commission thereafter named the Emir Aminu Ado Bayero as Royal Ambassador for Insurance in the country and commended his style of leadership since his takeover of the throne.

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Experts Canvass For Laws To Ensure Survival Of Insurance, Pension Sectors

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The Managing Director of APT Securities and Funds Limited, Kasim Garba Kurfi, has charged the government to put in place enabling policies and laws that support the survival of the sectors for them to continue contributing to the nation’s growth.

He described the insurance and pension sectors as the engine of growth of Nigerian economy considering the roles played by the two sectors in sustaining economic growth.

Kurfi, who stated this while delivering the theme paper at the 8th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Association of Insurance and Pension Editors (NAIPE) in Lagos recently, said insurance and pension sectors today stand as engines for sustainable economic growth and forces to reckon with in every economy. The conference’s theme was “Role of Insurance and Pension Sectors In Building Sustainable Economic Growth Under The New Government”.

He highlighted the contributions of the two sectors to the national economy saying, “There is over N2.5 trillion assets managed by the insurance institution in Nigeria as of 31st December 2022.

“While there is over N16.6 trillion assets managed by the Pension Fund Administration as at 31st December 2022, the combination of the two institutions has a total asset of over N19 trillion. The role played by the two institutions in sustaining our economic growth left no one in doubt that they are instruments for most of the economic development

“Over N726 billion in premiums paid in the year 2022 according to the National Insurance Commission, while the industry also paid over N318.1 billion in claims to its customers within the same period. This is a remarkable achievement in comparison with 3.5% growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).”

He said insurance institutions give security to the future of the common people and aid economic growth upon happenings or allowance of specific event or disaster.
“Insurance represent promise of the future compensation in case of specific losses or in exchange for periodic payment called premium.

“Managing risk is very important for companies dealing with money or equivalent. The insurance industry promotes National development through wealth creation or protection. It primarily hedges against risk or contingent or uncertain loss.”

On pension, he said, “The contribution of pension funds that run over N16 trillion is pronounced in all phases of life. Many sectors of the economy benefit from excess funds that look for alternative ways to invest such as FGN SUKUK, GREEN BOND, and Infrastructures Bond, among many others.”

Kurfi said Pension ensures that every worker receives his/her retirement benefit as at when due. Ensure workers save in order to cater for future liability and old age. Provide long-term finance for the real sector. Stimulate the development of the capital market.

While condemning those agencies and institutions clamouring to exit Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), Kurfi enjoined the government at all levels to discourage such moves for the interest of the Pensioners and the nation’s economy.

He said the contribution of insurance and pension sectors towards economic development is imminent and can be seen especially in driving the nation’s financial inclusion project.

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NAICOM Encourages Nasarawa Residents To Embrace Insurance

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By Sola Alabadan

In line with National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) determination to ensure that Nigerians enjoy the benefits of insurance, the commission took its insurance sensitisation campaign to Nasarawa State recently.

The Commissioner for insurance, Sunday Thomas and a delegation from NAICOM paid a courtesy visit on the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule to intimate him and members of his executive council about the benefits of insurance.

NAICOM has been striving to sensitise stakeholders on the benefits of compulsory insurances such as Insurance of Public Buildings, Insurance of Buildings Under Construction, Third Party Motor Insurance, amongst others,

The Commissioner for Insurance also used the opportunity to formally invite the Governor to the National Insurance Conference scheduled to hold from 22-24 October, 2023.

Responding, the Governor gave a personal testimony while he was still in the private sector of how the sugar refinery where he worked as the Managing Director was razed by fire but thanks to insurance, a newer and better one was built from the claims paid by the insurance company concerned.

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