Security
STAKEHOLDERS in Abia and Imo have continued to react differently to the recent order by the Police authorities for the enforcement of the Mandatory Third-Party Motor Insurance policy among motorists.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while some embraced the order, others kicked against it on the grounds that the enforcement should be the prerogative of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) rather than the Police.
A cross-section of the people, who spoke in a survey by NAN in the two states of the South-East at the weekend, hoped the police would not abuse the enforcement of the policy.
NAN reports that the Nigeria Police began the enforcement of the policy on February 1, following a directive by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun.
In Umuahia, a Legal Practitioner, Miss Comfort Orji, expressed support for the policy enforcement, adding that the measure aimed to protect lives and property.
Orji said that the Nigeria Police Act (2020) supports the police in implementing the policy.
She also said that Section 4 of the Act granted the police the authority to arrest individuals for specific reasons and enforce various laws
and regulations, including traffic regulations.
She further said that Section 68 of the Insurance Act and Section 312 of the 1945 Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insurance) Act made the use of Third-Party Motor Insurance mandatory for vehicle owners.
According to her, maintaining law and order is part of the Police mandate, which typically includes checking driver’s licences, vehicle registrations, insurance certificates, and proof of ownership during routine checks.
Another Legal Practitioner, Mrs Faith Osaroghene, argued that the FRSC’s mandate by law includes managing traffic, ensuring road safety, and enforcing regulations on Nigerian roads.
Osaroghene explained that the FRSC’s mandate was clearly defined by the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act, 2007, which outlined its key responsibilities.
She said, “The FRSC has the legal authority to inspect a driver’s licence, verify vehicle documents, such as insurance and roadworthiness certificates, and enforce seatbelt compliance, among other duties.”
She further said that the Police, on the other hand, had the primary responsibility of maintaining law and order in the country.
Osaroghene said that the Police Act “did not explicitly list the inspection of vehicle documents as part of the duties of the Police”.
She clarified that under the Road Traffic Act, they were legally permitted to “conduct vehicle stop and check”, especially for security reasons.
Osaroghene said that although the roles of the FRSC and Police were clearly defined on paper, there was frequent overlap in practice, leading to confusion among motorists.
An Insurance Officer, who identified herself simply as Jane, said that many vehicle owners neglect or delay renewing their insurance until enforcement pushes them to comply.
She contended that strict enforcement could indeed drive compliance and protect the innocent or third party whenever accidents occur.
Jane emphasised the need for awareness campaigns to educate vehicle owners on the benefits of having a valid insurance beyond just avoiding penalties.
Meanwhile, some commercial vehicle drivers, including Mr Alozie Eguzo and Mr Chibuzo Ogbonna, acknowledged the importance of the insurance policy.
They described the enforcement as a welcome development due to the numerous benefits it offers.
However, they admitted that they had not yet renewed their insurance certificates for the year, and that no law enforcement agent had stopped them for checks.
They appealed to the IGP to ensure that the enforcement of the policy be done with decorum rather than serve as “a tool for extortion”.
An Aba-based Legal Practitioner, Mr John Agbo, said that the Third Party Insurance is important “because it guards against emergencies by way of compensation against losses.
“It will help in recouping losses that may likely occur as a result of an accident on our highways, if it is diligently enforced.
“The insurance policy will also help to make drivers more careful and reduce accident on our roads, if it is enforced,” he said.
Agbo said that the insurance policy would yield good result for the road users and the government, if well enforced.
“A driver with Goodness and Mercy Motors, Mr Christian Abam, told NAN that he has the Third Party Insurance but that the police had not demanded for it on the road.
Abam said he obtained the insurance in February 2024 but had never been asked by the Police of FRSC to produce it for citing.
“As for other drivers, I do not know if they have it.
“The Third Party is all for the good of the road users, because that will help against losses in the event of an accident,” he said.
Another driver, Mr Ndudim Isaac, however, expressed some misgivings, saying that he did not see any benefit of the Third Party Insurance “because the enforcement will be misused by those in charge of it”.
Isaac said, “Road accidents occur whenever they want but for compensation, the laws of the land must make the payment of compensation stress-free.”
Meanwhile, the Police Command in Abia says it has started the enforcement of the policy across the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Maureen Chinaka, said that the command commenced enforcement on Monday, February 3, “in compliance with IGP’s directive”.
Chinaka said that the Commissioner of Police, Mr Danladi Isa, and his management team, alongside State Traffic Officers, went out to the highway to begin the enforcement on Monday.
She said the police chief had earlier briefed officers attached to the Safer Highway Unit and the State Traffic Officers against unprofessional conduct, extortion and incivility towards motorists during enforcement.
She said that the CP had warned that any officer found engaging in such misconduct would face severe disciplinary measures.
“The enforcement of Third-Party Insurance is restricted to these officers the CP had briefed so that we can curtail and monitor the activities of our men in the state.
“It is also to ensure that the rights of citizens are respected,” she said.
The PPRO said that it was observed during the exercise that some motorists were not aware that they had the Third-Party Insurance.
According to her, those who run full insurance package are sure to have the Third-Party Insurance except otherwise.
“We showed them where it was contained in their particulars and encouraged them to always update it once it expired.
“We have experienced reasonable compliance, but those who do not have it, we encouraged and advised to ensure that they do the needful,” Chinaka said.
She urged all vehicle owners in the state to ensure they obtained valid Third-Party Insurance to avoid legal consequences.
In Imo, NAN correspondents, who monitored some checkpoints in Owerri, the state capital, reports that police personnel have also commenced the enforcement in the state in full swing.
The Spokesman for the Imo command, DSP Henry Okoye, rated the compliance level in the state at about 70 per cent.
Okoye said that the command commenced the policy enforcement on February 1 as directed by the IGP.
He said that ahead of the enforcement, the command, led by the CP, Mr Aboki Danjuma, had sensitised motorists on the directive.
“The people of the state are actually complying with the directive.
“In fact, many of them already have the third-party insurance.
“Some, who don’t have the policy, have the comprehensive insurance policy,” he said.
Okoye said the command had put in place measures to ensure that personnel maintain the highest standard of professionalism.
“We don’t want to receive complaints of unprofessionalism from members of the public,” he added.
He further emphasised that any personnel of the command found wanting while enforcing the directive would face severe sanctions.
Okoye admitted that a few vehicles had been impounded since enforcement commenced but could not ascertain the number.
He said that the few impounded vehicles were later released to their owners after they secured the necessary insurance documents.
Contributing, the Southeast Zonal Chairman of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Mr Ubaka Nweke, said the demand for third-party insurance documents were still low at revenue offices across the zone.
Nweke said that those coming for the insurance policy were those “who do not want to get into trouble on the road with the Police and FRSC officials”.
He said that transport companies organise their drivers to obtain insurance policy as a group for their fleet of vehicles.
“Some don’t even believe they need the third-party insurance for anything because insurance companies have failed to fullfil their compensatory obligations over the years.
“For the individuals, it appears that those who respond to insurance are people working in government and private organisations, such as banks and universities.
“Private persons, like traders, businessmen and commercial drivers, see third-party insurance payment to insurance companies as unnecessary and a waste.
“They are always ready to sought things out with law enforcement agents on the road,” Nweke said.
He listed the required fee for third-party insurance as N15,000 for private salon cars, N20,000 for buses and N25,000 for trucks.
A commercial bus driver with Ekwulobia Urban Mass Transit, Mr Tobias Igbokwe, said the company’s rule mandated each driver to obtain valid third-party insurance policy.
Igbokwe, who plies Onitsha – Owerri Road, however, lamented that the insurance companies were defaulting in paying compensation to drivers, following disasters, such as accident, inferno and others.
“We don’t get compensation in cases of accidents from the insurance companies even though we obtain insurance for our vehicles yearly,” he said.
However, NAN reports that some motorists claimed not to have knowledge of the new directive on the insurance policy.
Another motorist, Mr Ugochukwu Azubuike, urged the IGP to sensitise the public and motorists about the directive.
A Legal Practitioner, Mr Wilson Ubah, said that the onus of implementation should fall on insurance companies, who have been mandated to carry out the exercise.
Ubah urged motorists to embrace the concept, saying that it would “help ensure safety on Nigerian roads”.
He also called for a legislation to strengthen the directive and make for ease of compliance.
A senior officer of FRSC, Mr Udo Ukoh, expressed hope that “with the progress of time, many persons will understand better and there would be proper implementation”.
Also, a former executive member of the Police Community Relations Committee, Mr Sylvester Okoro, called for adequate sensitisation of the people to the importance of the insurance policy.
Okoro said that the implementation of the third-party insurance policy should begin with insurance companies and not motorists.
According to him, the Nigeria Police should channel their energies right and widen the scope of their sensitisation efforts for best results. (NAN)
A.I
Feb. 10, 2025
Tags: FRSC Mr Kayode Egbetokun. Mr Sylvester Okoro Mr Udo Ukoh Mr Wilson Ubah
