Ebere Nwoji
Insurance industry managers have commended the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode for the provision of public liability insurance cover for the six viewing centres he opened in the state for football fans to view the ongoing 2018 FIFA World Cup football competition holding in Russia.
The insurers, said provision of public liability insurance cover for the viewers was a good development and a sign that the state governor cares for the well-being and security of Lagos residents.
According to them, it also showed that Nigerians were beginning to understand the relevance of insurance and the need to make insurance provision for the unforeseen.
Among the insurers who commented on the development was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Alpha choice Insurance Brokers, Mr Sunny Adela.
Adeda, who is also a past president of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), said the development was a sign that ongoing efforts by the insurers to popularise insurance among Nigerians was yielding good fruits.
He said the public liability insurance cover provided by the governor would cover the viewers against bodily injuries during the period of the competition and against death resulting from stampede and other mishap during the completion.
He however said it does not cover loss of their personal belongings such as telephone handsets and other valuables they came to the viewing centre with.
The News Agency of Nigeria,(NAN) recently reported that Ambode had opened six viewing centres for Lagos residents to watch live football actions from the ongoing Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup.
NAN, said the sports-loving governor also provided security, traffic control and general sanitation at the viewing centres.
The viewing centres are located at: Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos Island; Abesan Estate, Alimosho; Naval Yard Ajegunle; Bishop Aggrey School, Mushin, and Epe Recreation Centres.
Other insurance managers who spoke to THISDAY, urged other state governors as well as the federal government to borrow a leaf from the move by Ambode.
For the security of the Nigerian team, the Super Eagles participating in the World Cup, the Nigerian Football Federation(NFF) had before now entered into partnership with Wapic Insurance plc as official insurer of the Super Eagles for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.
The five-year pact, which has an option of renewal, extends to other national teams to serve as support to the players during their playing careers and lives. Apart from this, Wapic will bring about a wide range of financial, emotional and psychological support to the players.
Also, the Amaju Pinnick-led board chose Senforce Insurance Brokers as the official insurance brokers under the arrangement.
Senforce will provide advisory services to NFF on the best insurance packages to acquire and to ensure an effective insurance coverage for the football house.
In recent times, Nigerian insurers have been striving to reposition the industry in the minds of Nigerians and to make every Nigerian see insurance need in what ever venture he wants to go into.
This has seen the insurers developing a three-year industry rebranding and mass awareness campaign project to make Nigerians see the need to make insurance provisions for whatever activity they want to engage in.
