Lagos partners Nigerian Insurers Association on compulsory cover

The Lagos State Safety Commission has partnered with the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) on compulsory occupier’s liability insurance of public buildings in the State to ensure the safety of third party and adequate compensation in the case of any mishap.

 In line with the provisions of section 65 of the National Insurance Act 2003, public buildings must be adequately insured ostensibly cushion the impact and reduce burden and liability on property owners and government in the case of accident or incidents such as natural disasters, building collapse, fire outbreak, and explosion resulting in injuries, permanent disabilities or loss of lives and property.

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It would be recalled that Lagos State Government in 2017 expressed its readiness to introduce compulsory insurance to owners of buildings across the State due to the increasing incidence of building collapse and to establish a Safety Institute where stakeholders can be trained and certified.

Addressing newsmen, the Director General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr Lanre Mojola stressed the need for event centre owners, school owners, bakery owners and restaurants owners among others key into the initiative, which he said is geared towards ensuring a safer Lagos.

He disclosed that based on data captured, 480 incidents of building collapses have been recorded in the State in the past 44years. “Safety is everyone’s responsibility,” he said, noting that embracing insurance will save Lagosians from untold hardship, losses and hopelessness associated with unforeseen emergency situations.

“As a Safety Commission, we have the mandate to issue Safety Compliance Certificate in public places but before we issue the certificate, one of the prerequisites is to show the Occupiers Insurance. We are working closely with the Insurance industry to implement this,” Mojola said, noting that the purchase of occupier’s liability insurance in Lagos State has been digitalized for easy access.

 On her part, the Director-General, Nigeria Insurers Association, Mrs Yetunde Ilori, stated that the measure is not a revenue-generating venture, but about the safety of all, aimed at alleviating the adverse impact of mishaps.