On Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner for Insurance Technical, NAICOM, Sabiu Abubakar, disclosed that the National Insurance Commission, expressed worry over most public buildings and buildings under construction above two floors of not adequately insured.
Abubakar, who spoke at a sensitisation workshop for the Federal Fire Service and state fire service officers on insurance of public buildings and buildings under construction held in Abuja.
He said the development has further highlighted the urgent need for the Commission to implement measures that will ensure that these buildings are adequately insured.
The lack of insurance policy for public building is a clear violation of Section 65 of the Insurance Act 2003, which stipulates that all public building must be adequately insured.
Also, it violates Section 64 of the Act, which provides that all buildings under construction above 2 floors must be adequately insured.
Abubakar stated further that the essence of insurance of public buildings and buildings under construction above 2 floors is to cushion the impact and reduce the burden and liabilities that the owner or government would have to bear in the likely occurrences of catastrophic events such as natural disasters, fire, accidents, building collapse, injuries or death to third parties.
This, he noted, would assist in saving the government money which can be channeled towards augmenting the needs of the citizenry, providing infrastructure, and creating employment, among others.
He said, “As follow-up to the success of previous nationwide awareness campaigns for compulsory insurance, NAICOM is moving the bar a notch higher.
“Therefore, this sensitization workshop is aimed at equipping Fire Service Officers with the necessary knowledge to properly enforce the insurance of public buildings and buildings under construction above 2 floors.
“It is very worrisome to the Commission that most public buildings and buildings under construction above 2 floors are never adequately and appropriately insured, which further accentuated the need for urgent measures to be put in place by the Commission to ensure that these buildings are adequately insured. It is the desire of NAICOM to change this narrative for good.”
The Comptroller-General of the Federal Fire Service who was represented by Debbie Windele, said the partnership between the Fire Service, and NAICOM is absolutely necessary as section 65 of the Insurance Act 2003 only provides for all public buildings in the federation to be insured.
However, she said that in sub-section 4, it provides that 0.25 per cent of the net premium received by every direct insurer on policies issued from public buildings must be paid quarterly by every insurer into the Fire Services Maintenance Fund.
She explained that the proceeds collated into this Fund by the Commission would be disbursed to the Fire Service for the purpose of providing grant or equipment.
