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Tag: NIA

  • Nigeria records 500 building collapses in 14 years, says NIA

    Nigeria records 500 building collapses in 14 years, says NIA

    The Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA) has described building collapse as a recurring nightmare ridiculing the country internationally.

    The Institute revealed that over 500 cases have been recorded in the country which highlights the need for stricter building regulations and enforcement to prevent the menace.

    At the 2024 Architects symposium held in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital on Friday with the theme “Architecture and building collapse: the practice, reality and remedy”, President of the NIA, Arc Adeniyi Mobolaji, called on members of the body to be alive to their responsibility in a building project to prevent the cases.

    “Incidents of building collapse in Nigeria highlight the need for stricter building regulations and enforcement to prevent it.

    “Building collapse is a recurring nightmare in Nigeria, in fact, it’s becoming very embarrassing, we are almost becoming ridiculed internationally when like every other week, the building is collapsing.

    “Recently, a building collapsed in Lagos. In fact, Lagos is becoming the epicentre for building collapses in Nigeria and it is so unfortunate. As Architects, we must confront this reality and take collective responsibility to ensure safety and sustainability.

    “We must never forget our position in building projects. The Architect is the lead construction. Therefore he has an oversight over all the professionals. The statistics are alarming and this is the reality we must face. Over 500 building collapses in Nigeria since 2010 has been recorded and over 100 lives lost”, she stated.

    In a lecture titled, “Building Construction Delivery Process in Nigeria: The Role of Government and Professionals in the Building Industry”, the Managing Director of Anambra Bureau of Public Procurement, Okey Ezeobi called for collaboration by professionals in the industry to tackle the cases of building collapse in the country.

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    He blamed the cases on the collapse of practice in the building industry and government framework on the rising cases of the menace.

    In his remarks, the Chairman of NIA, Ebonyi State chapter, Dr. Emmanuel Udomiaye also called on the stakeholders in the building environment to form a synergy to tackle the monster.

    He lamented that the nobility of architecture was under threat, not because architecture was no longer relevant in the 21st century, but because of the scowl neglect by those who have benefited so much from “mother architecture”.

  • NIA introduces Unified NIIP for third party motor insurance

    NIA introduces Unified NIIP for third party motor insurance

    The Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) has launched the Unified Nigerian Insurance Industry Portal (NIIP).

    In a statement, NIA DirectorGeneral, Mrs.Yetunde Ilori, said the platform aims to ease the process of purchasing third party motor insurance and address fake insurance certificates issued by unscrupulous elements.

    She stated that the Unified NIIP is an enhanced version of the NIIP. It offers convenience and security to insurers.

    One of the key advantages of the Unified NIIP, he said, is its ability to empower individuals to buy, renew, and report claims on their third party motor insurance policies from the comfort of their homes, offices, or any other location 24/7 using the internet.

    She added: “This user-friendly portal not only enhances accessibility, but also significantly reduces the incidence of fake insurance papers circulating in the country. Among its array of benefits is that the portal is poised to eliminate or substantially reduce complaints from the public across different states of the federation.”

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    “Individuals can purchase third party motor insurance covers for themselves or on behalf of others. Insurance brokers and agents  registered and licensed by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) can also use this portal to sell insurance to their clients.

    “Premium payments on the NIIP platform are seamless, offering multiple payment options, including mobile banking apps, fund transfer platforms, ATM cards, and Quickteller. Once payment is made, users can conveniently print or download their certificates directly from the platform, ensuring hassle-free access to essential documentation.’

    “As the NIA unveils the Unified NIIP to the public, the association and its members are of the opinion that the portal will have a highly transformative impact on the insurance market. With its innovative features, the Unified NIIP is poised to enhance customer experience and usher in a new era of efficiency in the Nigerian insurance landscape,” he added.

  • NIA to vehicle owners: buy insurance

    NIA to vehicle owners: buy insurance

    Motorists should priotise  protecting their vehicles with motor insurance, the Director-General, Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA), Mrs. Yetunde Ilori, has said.

    In a statement, Mrs. Ilori said there was the need for Nigerians to insure despite the increase in motor insurance premium on January 1, last year.

    It would be recalled that the premium of third party vehicles had been incresed from N5,000 to N15,000 and liability from N1 million to N3 million

    Mrs Ilori said the increase has put policyholders in better position for more benefits.

    She said it was becoming difficult to replace lost items due to the hyper inflation. As a result, she urged Nigerians to take advantage of insurance as it gives peace of mind to the insured.

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    She, however, advised Nigerians to be weary of some insurers that are still selling third party motor insurance policies for below the approved N15, 000.

    She said: “The saboteurs commonly found in vehicle licensing offices across the country deceive their victims and reap off their hard earned money and would never be available to pay claims when risks occur.”

    She expressed misgivings over the huge loss the industry had recorded over the years due to fake motor insurance policies. She added that the industry is partnering that the Lagos State Government to implement e-insurance to drive sales of third motor insurance through the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) platform of the state, adding that this would eradicate fake insurance.

  • Marine surveyors vital to insurance, says NIA chief

    Marine surveyors vital to insurance, says NIA chief

    There is the need to accommodate marine surveyors in marine underwriting, the Director-General, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) Mrs. Yetunde Ilori, has said.

      This is because of the major role they play in the marine insurance.

    She stated this at the Second Monday Ogadina  yearly memorial lecture organised by the Guild of Marine Surveyors in Lagos.

    He spoke on theme: ‘Championing professionalism and competence in effective service delivery’

    She said the NIA would continue to support the Guild to ensure that insurance potential in the marine sector were fully harnessed.

    She charged the members of the Guild to be good ambassadors by living above board, esteem professionalism and good competence while offering their services.

    The President, Guild of Marine Surveyors, Wale Adetoro, said the lecture series is aimed at upholding the legacy of Ogadina’s contributions to the Guild, adding that Ogadina stood for excellence.

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    Adetoro said the Guild is made up of 63 corporate and 12 individual members and implore the public to patronise registered members to guarantee quality and effective service delivery.

    He said: “We still have accommodation for more members. All you need to do is to visit our website, download our membership form, complete it and submit it to our secretariat or return by mail.

    “The membership committee will invite you for an interview and if admitted, you will pay the required joining fee and subscription. The Guild is known for professionalism, integrity, knowledge, efficiency and trust.

    “We are working hard to equip and train members, especially as regards quality and effective service delivery. The list of the Guild’s  members are on our website,” he added.

  • NIA urges vehicle owners to verify policy on USSD code

    The Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) has called on Nigerians to confirm the authenticity of their motor insurance policy on the Nigerian Insurance Industry Database Portal through the association’s Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) code *565*11# on their phone.

    NIA Director-General, Mrs Yetunde Ilori, who made the call at a media parley with newsmen in Lagos, said it is necessary for vehicle owners not to get caught by the authorities.

    She urged vehicle owners, who buy either third party or comprehensive insurance, to ask the insurer to upload the policy on the NIID platform.

    She, however, said the association has been moving from one insurance company to another to drum into operators the need to upload their sold motor policies on the NIID.

    The association, she said has fined some insurance companies who do not upload motor policies sold on the platform, adding that the NIID remains one of the best ways to curb fake motor insurance policy.

    She said: “The NIID remains one of the best ways to curb fake motor insurance policy. In a bid to help vehicle owners to easily verify the genuineness of their policies, the insurance industry introduced the USSD code *565*11#. The awareness on usage of USSD code *565*11# is really gaining more ground as people daily rely on it to settle issues bothering on genuineness of their policies.

    “The NIID portal is the only central record of all insured vehicles in Nigeria. As one of the most important tools to ensure that only insured vehicles are driven on our roads, the ASKNIID is used by authorised law enforcement agencies to enforce motor vehicle insurance law.

    “Vehicle owners, especially in Lagos State, where law enforcement agencies have come up with automated ways of checking whether your particulars are genuine, is where many people need to verify the genuineness of the insurance certificate before they get caught by the authorities for carrying fake insurance. When you take up your insurance, check the industry platform where insurance companies are supposed to upload whatever motor insurance they sell whether third party, comprehensive or whatever. So at the point of purchase, there is a question every vehicle owner that has bought insurance should be asking: Is my insurance already uploaded?”

    She continued: “I appeal to everyone not to wait until the camera picks you and a letter is sent to your home to pay fine. There are some people, who just send their drivers or third party to renew their vehicle license particulars for them and they end up buying a fake insurance certificate. This is why the industry has come up with a way by which you can verify the genuineness of your policy. Don’t just hold the paper, be sure the paper you are holding is being underwritten by a licensed insurance company.”

    She noted that a policy ought to be loaded on the platform within 24 hours, adding that a vehicle owner needs not have internet facility on his or her phone to verify a policy on the platform, but can do so on any phone through the USSD code.

    In terms of usage of the code, she said many people are using it, but the association is trying to create more awareness to get everybody on board.

  • Buhari meets Security Chiefs in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with Service Chiefs and security heads at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting was expected to deliberate on the security situation in the country.

    The security heads are also expected to present regular briefing to the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigeria Armed Forces.

    The Service Chiefs at the meeting were Chief of Defence Staff General Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Naval Staff Ibok-Ete IIbas and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar.

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    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai and the Director of National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ahmed Abubakar were represented at the meeting.

    Also present were the National Security Adviser Major Gen. Babagana Monguno; Director General, Department of Security Service DSS Yusuf Bichi; the Acting Inspector General of Police IGP Mohammed Adamu; Chief of Defence Intelligence and the Minister of Defence, Brigadier Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report

     

     

  • ‘NIA promoting self-regulation’

    The Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA) is promoting self-regulation among its member companies, the Chairman, Mr. Tope Smart, has said.

    He spoke during a media parley  in Lagos.

    Smart said the association is taking self-regulation more seriously than ever before, following the cancelled Tier Based Minimum Solvency Capital (TBMSC) introduced in August 2018, and later cancelled the regulatory body of the industry, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

    The TBMSC is a planned policy that would have categorised insurance companies into Tier 1, 2 and 3, and force many to recapitalise to be well classified.

    The NIA chairman stated that the association had two years ago launched a transformational agenda that would grow insurance companies and the sector.

    He added that it is in the interest of the operators to shore-up their capital and not wait to be compelled by the government to do so.

    He said: “Self-regulation is one of the things that we are trying to promote at NIA. In view of this, we launched a transformational agenda two years ago. We don’t want to wait until NAICOM tell us to raise capital. We want to on our own decide that the capital we are using to trade needs to be increased to a particular threshold. We have agreed among ourselves that this is necessary.

    “When the commission cancelled TBMSC, we discussed the issue at our council meeting and told our members to shore up their capital so that they can be responsible and pay claim. It will also enable us to play where we are supposed to play and to carry the risk we are insuring. So this is an issue that we are taking up at Council. Going forward, we don’t want to wait for government to say do this or that and that is why we have taken it up as an association.

    “The industry is moving forward and it is evolving. We are not yet where we plan to be but we are working towards getting to the promised land. There are a lot of innovations in the industry which, when compared to the past, we can say the industry is much better. We are happy that service delivery of most companies are getting better every day. We have a customer complaint bureau where members of the public can make a report on any issue they have with any insurance company. We have received several complaints and we have resolved many of them. So the companies have improved. We are not done yet because we believe our best is yet to come,”  he added.

  • NIA gets NAICOM’s, CBN’s nod to digitalise marine certificate

    The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have granted approval to the Nigerian Insurers Association, (NIA) to digitalise marine insurance certificate, Chairman of the association, Mr Tope Smart has said.

    The NIA Chairman, who is also the Group Managing Director of NEM Insurance Plc, spoke during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos.

    Smart said the development will generate more income for the industry and contribute to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    He said: “The initiative will also help the industry to recover all lost income prior the approval. The industry is also adopting the use of technology to drive insurance business. Technology plays vital role in the growth of any business and economy.

    “The association will this year, collaborate with other industry bodies to grow the market and improve the industry. The bodies will speak in one voice and ensure people-oriented policies are introduced to promote the industry and the economy.

    “We are optimistic that this year will be better and the industry will grow. The industry has been responsive in meeting genuine claims responsibilities and will continue to honour the payment of all genuine claims.”

    The Director-General, Mrs. Yetunde Ilori, noted that the industry is working assiduously on the industry’s unified platform for the sales of third party motor insurance code titled, Nigerian Insurance Industry Portal (NIIP).

    She added that the portal will be launched before the association’s current chairman leaves office.

    She said a total number of 2.5 million vehicles are actively captured on the Nigerian Insurance Industry Database (NIID), while the actual number of upload on the platform is over three million.

  • I was not disengaged by NIA, I retired voluntarily—Ex-Director

    A former Assistant Director with the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ibrahim Ibrahim, has clarified that he voluntarily retired from the service of the agency in 2006.

    He said he was never at any time disengaged by the NIA under any guise.

    He also explained that he does not hold extreme religious views in and out of office.

    Ibrahim made the clarifications through his counsel, Affis Matanmi Esq of Gravitas Law Partnership, against the backdrop of a publication by The Nation on Saturday on April, 22 2017.

    He said the publication was “false and malicious”.

    The letter from Ibrahim’s counsel said: “We have been consulted as Legal Practitioners and our professional services retained by Mr. Ibrahim Ibrahim hereinafter referred to as “Our Client” and on whose express instruction we write to you in respect of the above subject matter.

    “Our client’s brief and complaints are that:

    On April 22, 2017, your newspaper The Nation published a false and malicious statement concerning our client wherein our client was described on page 8 of The Nation’s publication of 22nd April, 2017 in the following words:

    “… Corroborating the suspicion, a former Assistant Director of NIA, Mr. Ibrahim Ibrahim, told a national newspaper that “Jonathan approved $289 million or so in November 2014 in excess of the approved budget of the agency.

    “So that excess was intended as campaign funds.” But a top NIA official faulted the claim. “Ibrahim was talking rubbish, he was disengaged a long time ago”.

    “He was no longer in the system, so he could not have known of appropriated or special funds.” “How can someone who left the system about five to six years ago be talking authoritatively? Even as an Assistant Director in the system, he could not ‘have known about the financial status of NIA. He is too junior to be in the picture.”

    He said Ibrahim was disengaged for alleged extreme religious view, he has been looking for an opportunity to get back at NIA. Let him leave the presidential Investigative Committee to do its job, he said…”

    The counsel said the concerned publication has affected his business and relationship with neighbours.

    The letter added: “The said statement was published in your newspaper circulated nation-wide, and our Client being a well-known person with friends, family and business associates all over the country and abroad has been receiving incessant calls and messages due to the referenced publication since 2017 till date.

    “In fact, neighbours and residents of his community, who do know him well, have withdrawn and dissociated from him due to this defamatory publication.

    “As you are aware, in this modern era, newspaper publications have a wider coverage beyond the regular newspapers purchased from the vendor stands. These days, people from all over the world, with smart phones and gagets, now have access to daily newspaper publications via their phones.

    ” Consequently, people all over the world were able to read your defamatory publication that our client was disengaged from the services of the National Intelligence Agency (N IA) as well as your statement that our client is a religious extremist.

    “Also, in an era where religious extremism has caused most havoc in the country, anyone considered as such is a likely suspect to all the atrocities being committed by a “named group” hence, defaming our client in such words affects his general well-being as a person and Nigerian Citizen.

    “Furthermore, your defamatory piece has caused our client grave economic downturns as our client’s business associates have refused to further have personal and business relationships with him as they now perceive him as a religious extremist who they consider unfit for business dealings.

    “You may wish to know that our client voluntarily retired from the service of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) sometimes in 2006 without any allegation as contained in your publication. Please, find attached NM ‘s acceptance letter of our client’s letter of voluntary resignation.”

    The ex-director demanded immediate retraction of the story and an apology.

    A July 30, 2006 letter to Mr. Ibrahim Ibrahim by the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed the voluntary retirement of the ex-Assistant Director.

    The letter, which came  from the Directorate of Inspectorate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, was titled “RE: VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT and signed by J. S. Shu’aibu(Director) for: Permanent Secretary

    The letter said: “Yours dated 4th  May 2006 on the above subject refers, please.

    ” I am directed to convey to you, the Permanent Secretary’s acceptance of your voluntary retirement from the Service with effect from 30th July 2006.

    “In view of the above, you are kindly requested to surrender all government property in your possession, including identity card(s) to the Security Department and obtain clearance from your Director before your final disengagement.

    “Please, accept the Permanent Secretary’s good wishes in your future endeavours.”

    EDITOR’S NOTE:  As a reputable newspaper, the said publication was not intended to defame, hurt, injure or cast aspersion on Mr. Ibrahim Ibrahim, a former Assistant Director with the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). We apologise for the use of “disengaged” and “extreme religious views” attributed to him in the story.

  • NIA to firms: participate in energy pool

    The Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) has urged insurance companies transacting oil and gas business that are yet to subscribe to the Energy & Allied Insurance Pool of Nigeria (EAIPN) to do so.

    NIA immediate past chairman, Eddie Efekoha, made the call while speaking with reporters in Lagos.

    He appealed to companies who participate in the pool to increase their patronage to improve the local market capacity to underwrite oil and gas risks through the pool.

    He said the pool was conceived by the association to build local capacity and reduce premium flight in oil and gas underwriting.

    He said: “Although the pool has its own technical management board, the association is impressed with reports of the significant progress been made so far as the balance sheet has continued to be impressive.

    Speaking on relationship with other government agencies, Efekoha said the association continues to engage strategically with stakeholders, such as Federal Ministry of Finance, National Assembly, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC), and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) whose activities impact on insurance business.

    ‘’The aim is to get them to fully understand insurance services to enable them assist us in delivering more value in the financial sector value chain through value enhancing policy frameworks,’’ he added.