Insurance Firms Paid N4bn Compensation To 2,000 Businesses Affected By EndSARS Protest

Insurance companies in the country have paid N4bn as compensation to over 2,000 businesses that were affected during the EndSARS protest.

The chairman of Nigerian Insurers Association, Mr. Ganiyu Musa, disclosed this on Friday at an interactive session with journalists.

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He noted that operators are still collating claims and every genuine claim will be settled.

The insurance industry had faced potential threats from the payment of claims following the massive destruction of properties by protesters in Lagos State and other cities.

The agitation by EndSARS protesters was hijacked by hoodlums who took advantage of the protest to unleash mayhem on the several cities.

Most affected is Lagos State where mayhem was unleashed on both the protesters and innocent people.

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The development made the Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to impose a 24 hour curfew on the state.

Few hours after the curfew was declared, soldiers were deployed to disperse the protesters at the Lekki toll gate. The development led to the reported death of seven of the protesters while several others were injured.

The action of the Security agencies infuriated the youths who went on rampage and started destroying properties belonging to individuals and corporate Organizations.

Some of them are in the police stations on the mainland in Igando, Ikotun and Bariga which were razed by angry mobs in Alimosho Local Government.

Also, the office of Television Continental, Federal Road Safety Corps, Vehicle Inspection Office, Lekki Toll Company, BRT Terminal in Oyinbo, Nigeria Port Authority building, Shoprite in Jakande Estate were all burnt by protesters.

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The Oriental Hotel on Victoria Island was also razed by the hoodlums while the family house of Lagos State Governor in Surulere, GT Bank in Lekki and several vehicles were also burnt.

Experts had said the collosal loss of properties as a result of these protests may have opened an era for the settlements of claims by insurance companies.

Speaking on the impact of the destruction on the insurance industry, Musa said that insurance companies will continue to pay all genuine claims in line with the extant policies

He said, “The number of insured businesses that were affected at the last count was about 2000 insured loss and the industry have settled over N4 billion claims in respect of the EndSARS protest.

“Once they are documented and completed, we have the commitment of our members that claims will be paid timely.

“The association is on top of developments on the aftermath of the protests and will continue to encourage members to pay all genuine claims in line with the extant policies.”

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On the Consolidated Insurance Bill 2020, Musa said the NIA welcomes the review as it will align the Act with global best practice and promote the business of insurance in the country.

According to him, the current insurance legislation is outdated and has made it impossible to do things that need to be done.

On the initiatives on compulsory insurance, he said the NIA has commenced discussions with Lagos State Building Control Agency as part of the implementation of Lagos State Building law.

“We are also working closely with the state vehicle Inspection service on enforcement of Third Party Motor Insurance in the state.

“We are also engaging Kaduna, Kogi and Ogun States, and remain hopeful that other states will see value in the platform and embrace it.

“Out of the estimated 13 million vehicles in Nigeria only about 2,939,767 Third Party Motor policies are in force as at April 26,2021,” he stated.

ENDS

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