General News
AN NGO, One World Initiative for Sustainable Development, on Friday in Abuja engaged some stakeholders in the transportation sector on need to make vehicle third-party insurance work in the country.
The move for the actualisation of the objective was the discussion at the inaugural meeting of stakeholders tagged: “Administration of third-party motor insurance and rights abuses on Nigerian roads”.
The meeting was organised by the NGO with the support of Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders in the transport sector at the meeting were Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS).
Others are Nigeria Police Force, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Hospital Management Board and other insurance companies.
Speaking during the meeting, the President of the NGO, Mr Timothy Achanya said that his organisation decided to step into the issue following the perceived sufferings Nigerians were encountering on the road daily.
According to him, many people have asked why is the third-party insurance policy not working in the country; why is it that people pay money and they are not getting value for what they paid for?
He said that questions had also been asked as to why people were dying when they were not supposed to; “why are people collecting money from people and at the end of the day promises are not being kept’’?
Achanya said that many Nigerians were yet to be abreast with the benefits embedded in the third-party insurance, adding that the NGO saw it as imperative and decided to call for the stakeholders meeting to address it.
He said that the stakeholders meeting would come out with a lasting solution where the outcome would be used to sensitise Nigerians about knowing their rights about third-party insurance for vehicles, and other rights on the road.
According to him, after the sensitisation of the public, Nigerians will start demanding for their rights about vehicle third-party insurance and other abuses by law enforcement officers on Nigerian road.
“VIO, NAICOM, FRSC are not sensitising Nigerians on the benefits of third-party insurance; there is need for synergy between these law enforcement agencies,” he stressed.
Mr Aliyu Abubakar, the Director-General of Legal Aid Council, said that the decision to call for the meeting became necessary to find a lasting solution to problems associated with mandate on Nigerian roads.
According to Abubakar, a lot of road accidents victims are dying, suffering injuries without help as a result of lack of knowledge about motor third-party insurance.
He added that people were issuing fake insurance papers, touts taking over the roads and motor park as a result of lack of knowledge about their rights and knowledge about vehicle third-party insurance.
Abubakar said that all these issues constituted part of the big problems that needed to be tackled in the country and make the vehicle third-party insurance to work for the benefit of Nigerians.
“Let me stress the need for proper work coordination and synergy between all the stakeholders here present.
“Legal Aid Council has a statutory responsibility of providing free legal assistance and representation, legal advice and alternative dispute resolutions to indigent Nigerians in conflict with the law to enhance access to justice.
“The legal aid council has a unit which is wholly dedicated to helping victims of road accidents by facilitating the payment of compensation to innocent third parties permanently disabled via mediation process and Motor Accident Victims Insurance Compensation scheme (MARVIS).
“See Section 78(1)(b) of the insurance Act 2003. Another function is to assist accident victims to file claims with insurance companies and facilitate payment with valid insurance cover among other functions.
“This event is aimed at enlightened the populace on the need to comply with road traffic rules and regulations, while mindful of other related matters,” he stressed.
Mr Suleiman Ahmadu admitted that NAICOM had been doing its best to ensure compliance in terms of insurance policies.
Mr Akintunde Alli, a Deputy Corp Commandant, FRSC FCT Command, pledged that the command would continue to do its part to ensure that “sanity is put on Nigerian roads’’. (NAN)
E.C
Tags:
