NCRIB reinforces need for insurance as security situation worsens
As Nigeria passes through a critical stage in its nationhood with growing level of insecurity orchestrated by the activities of terrorist groups, resulting in random loss of lives and properties, government has been urged to take insurance more seriously in its strategy plan for better security.
This has become important in a bid to build the necessary confidence among security personnel at all levels, reduce economic wasted on infrastructure as well as in disaster management.
Ayodapo Shoderu, president, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), who made the remark at its latest Members’ Evening hosted by Old Mutual Nigeria Life Assurance Limited held in Lagos, says Nigeria is passing through a critical time in its history.
Shoderu said the issue of national security will continue to be germane to national development as long as there could never be any long lasting or sustainable economic advancement without establishing an environment that engenders peace of mind of the citizens.
“The precarious situation of Nigeria today has necessitated the need to once again use this opportunity to underscore the need for government to take insurance more seriously as a device for the mitigation of losses and national security challenges and disasters.”
Insurance, being the last hope of the common man should be accorded its pivotal place in order to free government from avoidable expenditure and concerns when disasters occur. We should take a cue from advanced countries of the world to accord insurance its rightful place, Shoderu stated.
The NCRIB boss who condemned in utmost terms the abduction of over 200 girls of Chibok Secondary School in Borno State by members of Boko Haram, said “the Councils sympathises with the grieving parents of the abducted young ladies, who are now understandably traumatised and wish to implore security agencies and institutions to ensure they do all within their limits to ensure that the girls are released and returned to their parents.
“All well meaning Nigerians and corporate organisations should unite, condemn the barbaric acts and ensure that our country is safe for living, as well as for business,” Shoderu said.
Shoderu said the NCRIB would continue to cleanse itself of bad eggs as way of ensuring that consumers of insurance get value for their money.
According to him, whatever bad name the insurance industry has attained today could be said to have been caused by activities of these unethical practitioners who are always set to dupe unsuspecting insurance clients.
“It is quite important to me to advise our members across the nook and crannies of the country to continually compliment the efforts of the national secretariat in the enforcement of ethics and elimination of charlatans.
“This task is a collective one and it behoves on us all to mount surveillance across the zones of the country to ascertain those who are practising as insurance brokers illegally, with a view to bringing them to book.”
Quoting the law, he said “it stipulates that no one should undertake the business of insurance broking in Nigeria without due registration with the NCRIB as a precondition to obtaining operational license by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).
“The Council will be more stringent in admission of new members to prevent infiltration of the broking world by opportunists who may want to borrow the garb of insurance brokers under whatever guise,” Shoderu assured.
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