BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has organized a specialized one-day training program for officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), FCT Command, aimed at strengthening the enforcement of Motor Third-Party Insurance and other compulsory policies across Nigerian roads.
The initiative, held in Abuja, focused on equipping law enforcement officers with advanced skills to fast-track insurance policy verification and eliminate the proliferation of fake insurance certificates.
The training was themed “Building a Culture of Insurance Compliance: Police as Catalysts for Protecting Lives, Property and Enhancing Public Safety.” It was designed to empower officers to promote statutory compliance, verify the authenticity of insurance covers during routine checks, and help deepen public appreciation of insurance benefits.
Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner for Insurance/CEO of NAICOM, Mr. Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, Mr. Ekerete Ola Gam-Ikon underscored the strategic importance of the collaboration between the regulatory body and the NPF.
He noted that effective public safety extends beyond traditional crime prevention to shielding citizens from the severe financial consequences of unforeseen disasters.
“Insurance serves as a vital social and economic safety net, providing protection for individuals, families, businesses, and public institutions against losses arising from accidents, disasters, and other risks,” Mr. Gam-Ikon stated.
He added that the partnership is critical to reducing the high volume of uninsured vehicles on the roads, protecting commuters, curbing the use of counterfeit insurance certificates, and boosting public trust in regulatory institutions. These objectives, he emphasized, directly align with the provisions of the newly enacted Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025 and NAICOM’s mandate to deepen market penetration.
The commission highlighted the unique leverage the Nigeria Police Force possesses due to its daily interactions with motorists, business owners, and the public. By strictly enforcing compulsory insurance laws, police officers act as key drivers in reducing accident-related financial hardships and enhancing overall public safety.
During the technical sessions, participants received practical training on:
The core objectives and benefits of compulsory insurance lines.
Standardized digital and manual insurance policy verification procedures.
The foolproof identification of genuine insurance certificates.
The legal framework governing compliance under NIIRA 2025.
The program successfully strengthened the institutional bridge between NAICOM and the NPF, encouraging officers to act not just as law enforcers, but as grassroots advocates for insurance literacy.
Long-Term Commitment
Moving forward, NAICOM reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining close ties with law enforcement and relevant stakeholders to eliminate fake insurance vendors, improve nationwide compliance levels, and position the insurance sector as a meaningful contributor to Nigeria’s economic growth and social stability.
The Commission urged the officers of the FCT Command to champion this cause, fostering an environment where insurance is embraced not merely as a statutory obligation, but as an indispensable tool for safeguarding lives, investments, and livelihoods.
Climate tech, the field of technologies and solutions that are increasingly adapted to tackle the climate crisis, has emerged as Africa’s top venture funding sector, confining fintech, which has dominated the scene for years, to the back seat.
The sector accounted for less than a quarter of the aggregate venture capital that flowed into Africa in the nine years to 2025, according to a report released Tuesday by London-based research house Briter.
Climate tech’s role in venture funding became particularly pronounced in 2025, when it alone contributed 40 per cent, or $1.5 billion, compared with other years in the near-decade period under review, the study said. That was up from 13 per cent or $206 million in 2016.
“This growth has been accompanied by a rapid expansion in the number of funded companies and deals,” the report titled “The State of ClimateTech in Africa 2.0: Moving Beyond the Headline Numbers,” stated.
“Between 2016 and 2025, ClimateTech companies raised approximately $6.35 billion across 779 companies,” the research, conducted by Briter, conducted along with Catalyst Fund, BFA Global, FSD Africa and Africa: The Big Deal, added.
Nigeria’s growing profile
The report indicated that Nigeria, Africa’s largest nation by population, is quietly building a reputation as a climate-solution powerhouse, second only to Kenya. It attracted 12.9 per cent of the continent’s total investment between 2019 and 2025.
That said, Kenya, which tops the group of the three largest markets, which also includes South Africa, took more than half of the pool. It implies Nigeria needs to cover a vast swathe of ground within the ecosystem in the years ahead to stand a chance of leading Africa.
The country remains the fintech capital of Africa for years, with fintech revenue currently standing above $14 billion at a compounded annual growth rate of 31.4 per cent. The prestige has ridden a prolonged payments-led boom that has produced unicorns like Flutterwave, OPay and Moniepoint, with valuations above $1 billion.
Nevertheless, the report’s emphasis on climate tech as the newest sweetheart of offshore investors means that sector may end up as the leader of the broader tech industry in a matter of years, provided the current funding tempo doesn’t slow.
It highlighted areas such as logistics, farmer-to-market links, and post-harvest loss reduction as bright spots where Nigeria can leverage its potential in climate tech.
A case in point is Lagos-based Winich Farms and a generation of new platforms, which it said have drawn inspiration from Twiga Foods, a mobile-enabled B2B supply platform operating from Kenya.
Winich and those others, the research said, are forging ahead where Twiga faced difficulties in its early days, as they are now incorporating market access, embedded finance and logistics, helping them avert costs that otherwise could have gone into building physical infrastructure. Walking that path has also cleared the hurdle for Winich Farm and the rest to link farmers up with off-takers, “rather than assuming demand will follow supply,” it noted.
Universal Insurance Plc, Nigeria’s top underwriter, said it has paid a total of ₦1.35billion in claims during the second quarter of 2026.
This milestone according to the company highlights its ongoing commitment to customer satisfaction and the prompt settlement of genuine claims across its diverse business lines.
Tge company noted that theu claims were paid across key portfolios, including Agriculture, Aviation, Bond, Engineering, Fire, General Accident, Marine, Motor, Oil & Gas, and Special Risk insurance, demonstrating the company’s capacity to support its policyholders when they need it most.
Speaking on the performance, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Insurance Plc, Dr. Jeff Duru, noted that the impressive claims payout reflects the company’s financial strength, operational efficiency, and customer-centric philosophy.
“At Universal Insurance Plc, our customers remain at the heart of everything we do. Insurance is built on trust, and nothing demonstrates that trust more than our ability to honour genuine claims promptly. The payment of over ₦1.35 billion in claims within the second quarter of year 2026 is a clear testament to our unwavering commitment to standing by our policyholders in their moments of need.”
He emphasized that prompt claims settlement remains a core strategic priority for the company as it seeks to strengthen trust in the insurance industry and deliver exceptional service to individuals, businesses, and corporate organizations.
The insurer added that every genuine claim is processed with professionalism, transparency, and urgency to ensure minimal disruption to the businesses and daily lives of its clients.
As it deepens its market presence, Universal Insurance Plc plans to continue developing innovative products, leveraging technology for faster service delivery, and maintaining high standards of corporate governance to protect the lives, businesses, and investments of its clients.