By Sola Alabadan
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has assured the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) of the Nigerian Police Force’s full support in enforcing compulsory 3rd party motor insurance in the country.
Egbetokun gave this assurance when the Commissioner for Insurance/CEO of the NAICOM, Mr. Olusegun Omosehin, paid a courtesy visit to him at the Force Headquarters, on Tuesday in Abuja.
The police boss also announced that a team, headed by the DIG Operations, would be set up to oversee the enforcement of this compulsory insurance.
The purpose of the visit was to seek an audience with the IGP and the management of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), who are critical stakeholders aligned with NAICOM’s vision, to achieve its mandate, particularly in the area of compulsory insurance enforcement.
During the visit, the Commissioner for Insurance requested collaboration to advance the Nigerian insurance sector roadmap.
He emphasised that it is unlawful for anyone to drive on the road without a valid motor insurance (3rd party), lamenting that less than a quarter of the vehicles in the country have valid motor insurance.
The CFI stated that the visit aimed to seek NPF’s collaboration to ensure the enforcement of compulsory third party motor insurance, as mandated by law.
The CFI also highlighted that in 2023, the ECOWAS Brown card has been captured in the upgraded premium for third party motor insurance cover by NAICOM, allowing insured vehicles to travel across the West African sub-region.
Additionally, he noted that the benefits attached to the third party insurance had been increased to N3 million.
To further this initiative, the CFI underscored the need for digitisation platforms to authenticate the validity of vehicle insurance. He mentioned that this system is already being implemented by the Lagos State government.
The CFI requested the establishment of a team to collaborate with the Commission in conducting enforcement actions, asserting that the success of this initiative would be a significant achievement for Nigeria.
