L – R: Hon. Mahmud Tofa, Special Assistant to the Kano State Governor on Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Sunday Thomas, Commissioner For Insurance; Kano State SSG and Chairman of the Implementation Committee Alhaji Usman Alhaji and Alh. Sabiu Bello, Deputy Commissioner for Insurance Technical, at the event held in Abuja yesterday.
BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR–The Kano State Government said the implementation of compulsory Insurances products in the State will automatically lead to entrenchment of insurance culture among the citizens and encourage Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the State.
The State governor Dr. Abudullahi Umar Ganduje, stated this at a three-day retreat for members of the Technical Committee on implementation of Third Party Liability and other Insurances in Kano State, held yesterday in Abuja.
According to him, “government is exploring and promoting insurance culture in the state to, among others, encourage Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). In the long run, they (investors) will have to be insured as well and that will give them the safety required in case of any eventuality”.
On adoptation of compulsory insurance policy by the state government he said “is deliberate because we know that in the long run, we stand to mutually benefit: the insurance companies; the State government and the people of Kano.”
The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the Kano State Government, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, that compulsory insurance was adopted to make Kano a better state, develop economically and move to the next level.
He said “the policy will guarantee the protection of the people of the state and their businesses, by ensuring they are insured and in the event of any eventuality, they can get .
“It ensure that we raise our internally generated revenue, so that we can continue to deploy it into other sectors of development as well as help government fulfil its number one obligation which is protecting the life and property of our people.”
“In the event of any unfortunate circumstance then we know that we will have taken the necessary steps to get relief for the families of people and of course, owners of businesses.”
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr Sunday Thomas, said that the steps taken by the Kano state government over insurance was a testament that insurance could indeed thrive anywhere in Nigeria.
He noted that the objective of the retreat was to equip members of the committee with requisite information and knowledge to enable them maximize opportunities that would help grow and develop insurance culture amongst Kano state citizens.
According to Thomas the insurance policy would help the state generate more revenue and serve as social protection mechanism that would assist both government and citizens in the event of any disaster.
He noted that the mandatory insurances that would be enforced in the state would be the third-party motto insurance covers in respect of all mechanically propelled vehicles that ply public roads.
While assuring that the liability insurance cover in respect of all buildings under construction that are more than two floors.
“Also, all public buildings and these include schools, offices, hotels, hospitals, market shops, shopping malls, and all of that.
“Professional indemnity for all medical practitioners and hospitals in Kano state.
“Group Life Insurance for all employers of labour that employ more than three persons and annuity for retirees as provided under the pension reform act as an option.”
“As one of the leading commercial nerve centres in our country, with huge population and business potential, the adoption and enforcement of these compulsory insurances will no doubt boost insurance premium income in the country.
“It will create thousands of employment opportunities in the state, improve standard of living of the people and increase the state’s internally generated revenue.”
He added that beyond the compulsory classes of insurance, the committee would be educated on the need to appreciate and exploit the benefits of insurance by encouraging individuals or corporate entities within the state to embrace other non-mandatory insurances.
These are either through Takaful insurance otherwise known as Islamic insurance or Micro insurance which caters for the low-income earners who constitute larger percentage of the population and businesses.
This will enable an all-inclusive approach to the drive for insurance uptake that will address most of the sentiments against insurance in our society.
