BY NGOZI ONYEAKUSI

CFI, NAICOM, Olusegun Omosehin

The National Insurance Commission, has announced the successful completion of the twelve-month insurance sector recapitalization exercise undertaken pursuant to Section 15 and other relevant provisions of the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025, signed into law on 31 July 2025 by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as part of his administration’s financial sector transformation agenda towards the attainment of a US$1 trillion economy by 2030.

The successful conclusion of the exercise marks a defining milestone in the transformation of Nigeria’s insurance industry and signals the beginning of a new era for insurance in the country. It represents a major step towards building a stronger, more resilient, adequately capitalized, professionally governed, and policyholder-focused insurance sector that is better positioned to support national economic growth, deepen financial inclusion, mobilize long-term investment capital, and contribute meaningfully to the stability of Nigeria’s financial system.

*Background to the Recapitalization Exercise*

Following the enactment of NIIRA 2025, the Commission commenced a structured implementation process to provide strategic oversight, ensure transparency, support operators throughout the transition, and facilitate the effective implementation of the new minimum capital requirements within the statutory compliance period.

To ensure an orderly, transparent, credible, and verifiable process, the Commission issued the Guidelines on the Implementation of Minimum Capital Requirements (MCR) for Insurance and Reinsurance Companies in Nigeria. The Guidelines provided detailed guidance on the statutory minimum capital requirements under NIIRA 2025, eligible and ineligible capital instruments, admissible and non-admissible assets, verification and validation procedures, regulatory timelines, reporting obligations, and supervisory expectations throughout the implementation period.

Through a comprehensive process of review, verification, and validation, the recapitalization exercise has delivered a major boost to the Nigerian insurance industry. It has enhanced the financial resilience of operators, attracted substantial domestic and foreign investment, and rekindled strong investor confidence.

The verified outcome of the exercise indicates that Forty-three (43) insurance and reinsurance companies successfully met the prescribed Minimum Capital Requirements. However, Eight (8) insurance companies that submitted evidence of compliance shortly before the statutory deadline are currently undergoing final verification and regulatory review. This would be concluded within fourteen days.

*A New Era of a Stronger, Safer and More Resilient Insurance Industry*

Nigeria’s insurance industry is now entering a new phase of development founded on stronger capital, improved financial resilience, and enhanced capacity to underwrite larger and more sophisticated risks across strategic sectors of the economy.

The increase in minimum capital will improve insurers’ ability to honour policyholder obligations promptly, absorb emerging risks, support infrastructure and other long-term investments, and compete more effectively within regional and global insurance markets.

The recapitalization exercise also provides a stronger foundation for enhanced risk-based supervision by the Commission, ensuring that regulatory capital remains appropriately aligned with the nature, scale, complexity, and risk profile of each licensed operator.

*Commitment to Policyholder Protection and Market Development*

The Commission reassures policyholders, investors, insurance operators, development partners, and the general public that, as the implementation of NIIRA 2025 continues alongside the modernization of Nigeria’s insurance ecosystem through innovation, technology, and digitization, the Commission will continue to strengthen consumer protection, promote sound market conduct, and accelerate insurance penetration across the country.

Our unwavering commitment remains to build a fair, stable, innovative, inclusive, and globally competitive insurance market that inspires public confidence and delivers lasting value to policyholders and the Nigerian economy.

The Commission will continue to engage stakeholders and provide regular updates on post-recapitalization supervisory actions, companies undergoing final verification, industry restructuring developments, implementation of the Risk-Based Capital Framework, and other strategic initiatives designed to deepen insurance penetration and strengthen confidence in the Nigerian insurance industry.

The National Insurance Commission expresses its profound appreciation to the Federal Government, regulatory and supervisory partners, shareholders, investors, operators, professional bodies, development partners, and all stakeholders whose cooperation and commitment contributed to the successful completion of this historic exercise. The Commission looks forward to even stronger collaboration as Nigeria enters a new era of insurance.

The successful completion of this recapitalization exercise is not the destination but the foundation. It marks the beginning of a new era in which stronger institutions, stronger governance, and stronger public confidence will make insurance work better for every Nigerian.