Matthew Otoijagha
Niger Insurance Plc has in the past nine months of this year, paid over N1.4 billion claims to customers, its Managing Director, Edwin Igbiti, has said. He made this known at a press conference in Lagos, adding that other outstanding claims will be paid soonest.
He thanked all of the firm’s customers for their patience, trust and understanding during this challenging period in its long and otherwise stellar history while reaffirming the company’s renewed sense of responsibility and commitment to excellence.
Igbiti at the event also shared with members of the press the company’s growth and transformation plan, which was designed to reposition the firm for service excellence and competitiveness in a rapidly changing operating landscape.
The new CEO also revealed the company’s transformation blueprint, which according to him spans over the next five years (2020 to 2024) focusing on operational and technological advancements in delivering bespoke Insurance solutions to businesses, institutions and the growing populace of Nigeria.
He noted that the implementation of the transformation plan already began in the fourth quarter of 2019 following his appointment.
According to Igbiti, the firm’s three pillars of the transformation plan are: Strengthening its balance sheet (financial strength); strengthening its People (Talent & Innovation) and strengthening its business model (Sustained growth & Profitability).
Niger Insurance Plc. Management Team with members of National Association of Insurance and Pensions Correspondence (NAIPCO)
To ensure a successful execution of this plan, he said the company recently reconstituted a new Board-of-Directors, a new management team and an array of strategic partnerships.
He posited that at the firm’s 49th Annual General Meeting (AGM) which held on 21 November 2019, the company’s shareholders approved its recapitalization plan to meet the new regulatory capital requirements through, an equity capital raise via rights issue and/or private placement and a business combination by way of merger or acquisition, which must all be completed by 30 June, 2020.
Ademola Salami, the company’s new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) while providing a progress update said “Working with our Financial Advisers, the Board and Management of the company are already engaging with foreign and local investors that have shown interest in the company. High-level negotiations are on-going and we expect to secure substantive offers for investment in the coming weeks.”
In response to the situation regarding unpaid claims and outstanding customer benefits, the Managing Director expressed regret and attributed the delay to the company’s large asset portfolio which is skewed towards fixed assets.
He however assured the audience that the company’s assets are more than sufficient to settle all its liabilities and that it has made significant progress towards liquidating some fixed assets to unlock cash and pay down all outstanding obligations soon.
“There is a growing sense of purpose at Niger Insurance Plc, these days; it feels like a new dawn with management, staff and shareholders all working with passion and a common intent to write a great story in this new chapter of the company’s long and chequered history,” Igbiti added.