Some underwriters have expressed optimism that premium income will grow in the insurance industry this year against all odds.

The operators expressed their expectations in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday.

NAN reports that although the premium income in 2018 is yet to be released, the industry recorded N385.06 billion in premium income in 2017, according to Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA).

The experts said that the new rate on group life insurance introduced by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) in 2018 would assist in achieving the expected growth, among other factors.

Mr Tope Smart, the NIA Chairman, said the new rates had empowered operators to charge between six and eight per cent per mile.

“This is 300 per cent higher than the formal market rate on group life.

“This is supposed to triple the premium income of life underwriters in 2019, thereby boosting total premium production,” he said.

Smart said that as at the time the rate was introduced in 2018, most of the group life businesses had been renewed, but that the development would not have much impact.

He said that the businesses would be renewed at the mandated rate in 2019 and this would translate to more premium income from group life.

“I believe operators can improve the profit margin of insurance industry if they charge the right rate on policies,” he said.

Mr Eddie Efekoha, the President of Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), also said the institute was optimistic that the revived campaign would attract more Nigerians to embrace insurance.

Efokoha said the campaign would liberate many Nigerians from financial illiteracy by encouraging them to take up insurance policies.

According to Efekoha, the campaign is also expected to boost premium income, at least, by 100 per cent in 2019.

Mr Mufutau Oyegunle, the Managing Director, LAKEG Insurance Consultancy, applauded NAICOM for the timely regulatory intervention on group life policy.

Oyegunle, said that it was one of the best initiatives that was evolved by the industry regulator.
He said that the industry also would benefit a lot in terms of improved premium growth if operators stuck to the prescribed rates

“I am optimistic about that a higher premium production will be turned up in 2019 because the major issue which is “rate cutting” has been handled by the regulator by fixing the rates to be charged.

“I applaud the enforcement of rates on group life and third party and that to a large effect would boost Premium,” he said. (NAN)