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CBN Wants To Freeze Criminals’ Accounts

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has requested statutory powers to freeze accounts linked to criminals in the country.

The apex bank has also called for the creation of a Credit Tribunal to strengthen credit recovery processes and enforcement of collateral rights.

These positions were advanced, in Abuja, yesterday, at the Senate Committee Public Hearing on its Bill for an Act to Repeal the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2004 and re-enact the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act 2020.

Mr Kofo Salam-Alada, CBN’s Director Legal Services, in his presentation told the lawmakers said that the 2004 BOFIA provided for the CBN Governor “to apply to the court for orders to freeze accounts which are deemed to be linked with criminal and other civil infractions.”

He noted, however, that in the new Bill, which has passed through the First and Second Readings, that provision was omitted, entirely.

“This omission he told the Senate “erodes the powers of the CBNand creates a huge gap in the regulatory and resolution framework. Therefore, we propose that the extant provisions should be reinstated,” Mr Salam-Alada pointed out.

On the Creation of Credit Tribunal, the director defended the position of the CBN, as according to him, such a tribunal would greatly enhance loan recovery in the nation’s banking industry.

“As part of measures to address the role of non-performing loans, we propose the creation of a Credit Tribunal. The overarching objective is to create an efficient regime for the recovery of eligible loans of banks and Other Financial Institutions (OFls) and enforcement of rights over collateral securities,” the director said.

On Dormant Accounts in banks, the CBN called for the inclusion of provisions to improve the administration of such accounts, adding, “such provisions should address such requirements as the criteria for determining dormancy, the processes for managing the funds in dormant accounts and procedure for reclaiming funds by beneficiaries.”

The apex bank called the inclusion in the Bill, statutory powers of the CBN to intervene in the process of managing a failing bank and bringing it back to sound financial health were possible.

The CBN urged a review of the framework for managing failing institutions in line with international standards to properly delineate roles for the agency tasked with managing failing banks and other financial institutions and those with responsibility for resolving banks and other financial institutions whose license has been revoked.

“In other words, the Central Bank of Nigeria does the former as provided in the BOFIA while NDIC is saddled with the latter under the NDIC Act. The global best practice is to have the banking legislation empower the Financial services industry regulator to regulate banks, promote their soundness and stability superintend issuance and revocation of operating licence without recourse to any other institution; while the Deposit insurer is in charge of bank resolution activities after the revocation of the operating licence,” the director said.

Mr Salam-Alada added: “There is a need to expand the options available to the CBN to resolve failing banks and manage the systemic crisis without recourse to the public treasury. In line with international best practices, we recommend the establishment of a resolution fund to pool resources for managing banking sector distress.

“We also recommend the adoption of additional resolution tools such as bail-in (ensuring that losses are absorbed by shareholders and creditors), sale of the business (allowing the resolution authority to sell all or part of the failing bank to a private acquirer) and asset separation (isolating the “bad” assets of the bank in an asset management vehicle for an orderly wind-down, if immediate liquidation is not justified in current market conditions).

“Several new types of licensed institutions have entered the Nigerian Financial Services sector since the enactment of the 1991 Act. These include the non-interest banks, credit bureaux, payment system service providers, among others. There is a compelling need to introduce new provisions in the Bill to address the unique peculiarities of these institutions.”

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) agreed with the position of the CBN on the need to delineate the responsibilities of the two organizations in banking failure resolution.

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NAICOM Gives Insurers May 31 Deadline To Comply With Law On Policyholders’ Protection Fund

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By Sola Alabadan

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has given insurance operators a deadline of May 31 to submit the Insurance Policyholders’ Protection Fund (IPPF) Assessment Returns in respect of the year 2025.
According to the circular issued by NAICOM today, subsequently the insurance operators are required to submit the IPPF Assessment Returns in line with Section 4.3 of the Guideline on Fund.
Section 4.3 of the Guideline provides that “An insurer or reinsurer shall submit to the Commission an IPPF Assessment Returns on or before 31st March of each year indicating the gross written premium and brokerage commission in a prescribed format in respect of assessment period”.
NAICOM issued the Guidelines for the Collection, Management, and Administration of the IPPF in exercise of the powers conferred on the Commission by the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act 2025 and other extant insurance laws and
regulation.
The Guidelines ensure regulatory clarity, guidance and ease compliance, as it provides a comprehensive regulatory framework for the collection, management, and administration of the
Fund which serves as a statutory safety net designed to protect insurance policyholders against distress and insolvency of a licensed insurer or reinsurer, including guidance for the
reimbursement of loans by an insurer or reinsurer.
All insurers, reinsurers and relevant insurance institutions are required to ensure strict compliance with this Guidelines.

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Daily Economy To Unveil New Insurance Book Today

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Daily Economy Concept, the Publisher of Daily Economy, a multimedia platform, has announced plans to celebrate its second anniversary with the official launch of a landmark book titled “Trends in Nigeria’s Insurance Industry (2005–2025) & Selected Insurance Icons.”

The event is scheduled to hold today in Lagos and is expected to bring together key stakeholders from across Nigeria’s insurance and financial sectors.

The occasion will feature prominent personalities in the insurance and financial services industry. The Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr. Olusegun Omosehin, will be the Chief Keynote Speaker and Chief Presenter of the book.

The Chairman of the Occasion is the Chairman of Prestige Insurance Brokers Limited, Prince (Dr.) Feyisayo Soyewo, while the Special Guest of Honour is the Group Managing Director/CEO of the African Reinsurance Corporation, Dr. Corneille Karekezi.

Other distinguished guests expected at the event include the President of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Mrs. Yetunde Ilori; Chairman of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Mr. Kunle Ahmed; and President and Chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, Mrs. Ekeoma Ezeibe.

The book, written by Nike Popoola, a multiple award-winning journalist and Editor of Daily Economy, provides a comprehensive account of the transformation of Nigeria’s insurance industry over the past two decades. It documents major reforms, regulatory developments, recapitalisation efforts, and the contributions of notable industry leaders.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Popoola said the publication was inspired by the need to document the industry’s evolution and preserve its institutional memory.

“This book is the product of extensive research and years of covering the insurance sector. It tells the story of how the industry has evolved from a relatively underdeveloped sector into one that is increasingly relevant to Nigeria’s economy. Importantly, it highlights the people whose contributions have shaped this transformation,” she said.

Also speaking on the significance of the event, the Publisher of Daily Economy noted that the anniversary and book launch represent a major milestone for the organisation.

“As a publication committed to deepening financial literacy and industry knowledge, we are proud to present this book as a contribution to the insurance ecosystem. It is not just a celebration of our journey over the past two years, but also a platform to spotlight the growth and potential of Nigeria’s insurance industry,” the Publisher said.

The publication offers rich insights for industry professionals, policymakers, researchers, and students, while also featuring photographic documentation of key events that have shaped the industry over the last 20 years.

The event will provide a unique platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and reflection on the future of insurance in Nigeria.

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Leadway Assurance To Champion Climate Risk Solutions At Symposium In Germany

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Representatives of Leadway Assurance Company will be participating in the Africa Climate Insurance Symposium 2026, scheduled for March 31 to April 1, 2026, in Frankfurt, Germany, to advance climate risk solutions for Africa.
The symposium aims to kick off an annual cycle of such events bringing together a unique community operating in the area of Agricultural Index Insurance and therefore creating a highly specialized community of practice.
Beyond the annual event the country level experts will form clusters and with support and mobilisation of external solicitors will connect on an interim half year basis virtually to monitor and report on progress made.
During the symposium, Leadway will contribute to the panel discussion on ‘Scaling Agricultural Index Insurance for Resilient Food Systems’ – The private sector perspective and present a case study on innovative insurance models tailored for smallholder farmers. The Group will also participate in the Solution Showcase segment, where it will highlight the Leadway WeatherGuard product and share insights on collaborative initiatives that foster public-private partnerships for climate adaptation.
Themed “How Africa’s Insurers are Reshaping Climate Resilience from the Ground Up,” the symposium brings together insurance experts, development partners, and Agricultural stakeholders to explore practical, scalable responses to climate risks.
Leadway’s participation in the symposium aims to demonstrate how locally tailored made Agricultural Index insurance products have provided climate resilience for over three million Nigerian farmers, providing timely payouts in excess of N15 Billion in payouts over a five year period. This approach supports have farmer livelihoods, enables reinvestment, and underlines insurance’s role in strengthening food security and economic stability for African communities.
Speaking ahead of the event, Mr. Fatona Ayoola Paul, Leadway’s Global Head of Agricultural Risk Solutions, emphasised the urgency of strengthening Africa’s resilient frameworks through innovation, partnerships and collaboration. He explained that Leadway’s agricultural index insurance model stands out for using weather data and satellite technology to trigger automatic payouts when adverse conditions, such as drought or excessive rainfall, are recorded.
Unlike traditional indemnity insurance, this approach eliminates the need for costly, time-consuming farm assessments, enabling faster support to farmers. The insurance also offers bundled services, such as agronomic advisory services and digital enrollment, ensuring practical accessibility and greater impact for smallholder farmers.
“The demand for scaling Africa’s agricultural production is happening at interesting times when climate uncertainties and vulnerability are providing opportunities for innovation. This is where the Agricultural index insurance becomes an innovative concept that is now a practical tool transforming livelihoods across the continent. Platforms like this symposium allow us to deepen collaboration, share proven models, and accelerate impact to broaden such ingenious interventions across the continent,” he said.
The Africa Climate Insurance Symposium unites agricultural index insurance experts to build a dedicated community of practice. It drives cross-country collaboration among insurers, regulators, governments, and development partners, while encouraging international knowledge exchange. Through formal discussions and informal networking, participants will quickly share and replicate successful models to enhance regional cooperation.
The event brings together leaders and partners active in the insurance value chains such as Insuresilience Investment Funds (managed by Blue Orchard), Africa Reinsurance Corporation, Swiss Reinsurance, Continental Reinsurance, Pula Advisors, the Global Secretariat (BMZ/KFW), World Bank Global Shield Financing Facility, the Gates and Bayer Foundation among others to advance climate risk finance in Africa and continue laying the groundwork for regional replication.
With collaboration from key organisations and public-private partnerships, the symposium advances accessible, innovative insurance that bolsters African climate resilience and supports vulnerable communities. Leadway exemplifies African leadership through its actionable solutions and insights.

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