General News
What Can Delay Life Insurance Claims
Claims making and payment are the most challenging aspects of life insurance and indeed any area of insurance. Often times, prospective insurance buyers do not take time to do all that are expected of them at the point of buying the life insurance. Life insurance claims occur when an insured person passes away. And if one understands what is involved during the claims process, then he can help prevent any delays in payment. There are a number of factors that can cause delays in a claim being paid and knowing what these factors are can help you make the claims process happen much faster and avoid any delays. Life insurance is purchased to provide financial protection for those left behind and when you purchase this coverage you want the benefits to be available as soon as possible to avoid any financial hardships. Life insurance claims involve a number of steps and during each step any mistakes or omissions can cause a delay, which could be short or take months to redeem, depending on the specific reasons for the delay. The first step is to locate the actual policy, which has information that will be needed. Look at the policy to determine the life insurance company that is on the policy and then contact the insurer. Usually the policy will contain all the relevant information on who to contact regarding a claim. If you can not locate the policy but know the company who offered it then you can call the company and explain the situation.
The next step for life insurance claims is to fill out the claim form. This is usually sent by the life insurance company. This step is very important and the form should be filled out completely and as comprehensive as possible. If you do not know the answer or it does not apply make sure it is clearly written in the answer space. Do not leave any questions blank, because this will delay the claim payment while the company investigates the answer. It is also very helpful to have the policy number, because this will make the life insurance claims process go much faster. If you are not sure of an answer or do not know, you can call your insurance agent, your broker or the life insurance company. They may be able to look up any missing information if it is in the database and providing this on the claim form may prevent any unnecessary delays. Another important part of the life insurance claims process is the death certificate. After you have filled out the claim form completely, you will need to get a certified copy of the death certificate for each claim being sent in. It may be a good idea to call first and determine where to go to get this certificate. You may be able to get the needed copies from the hospital if one was used, or you may have to go to either the local government that the deceased resided in or the state where the death occurred. A claim without a certified copy of the death certificate may be delayed or even denied. Once you have the required death certificate, send it together with the completed life insurance claims forms to the life insurance company. These tips can help you avoid any delay in the claim payment. However one topical question to ask is when does an insurance claim delay becomes an insurance claim dispute. It is only disreputable insurance companies that apply delay tactics to frustrate claimants. And this is based largely on the premise that by forcing you to wait for settlement of your claim, you will eventually give up. Giving up translates to less or no money for the claim payment and thus more money for the insurance company. This unholy practice used to be in place in Nigeria when we had over hundred insurance companies with some of them unregistered and unregulated. In furtherance of this endeavor, carriers will utilize a variety of tactics to delay your claim through a process dubbed "claim management". Insurance consumers must arm themselves with sufficient knowledge to identify the difference between legitimate insurance claim investigations and illegitimate claim delays. An insurance company has a right, a duty in fact, to conduct insurance claim investigations. The key here is that the investigation must be reasonable and timely. Insurance policies require that the insured must cooperate with the carrier in matters concerning a claim. These conditions are generally included in the petition. Accordingly, it is reasonable for your insurer to ask you for specific documents or items related to your claim. By all means, it is advisable to comply with requests for relevant information and data. Likewise, it is important to cooperate with the insurer’s request, including your recorded statement, proof of lost documents which must be supported with affidavits. If one fails to comply with these reasonable requests, such a person may be putting himself in jeopardy of a lengthy investigation and a probable claim denial. Some of the delay tactics that insurance companies utilize include confirmation of coverage. Your adjuster may cling to some little issues as "confirm coverage" which is based on the terms of the insurance policy. Flawed, faulty, or unfair policy interpretation is also one of the more common examples of unfair tactics insurance companies often use to delay claims. This process is frequently no more than a search for reasons not to pay claims. Requirement for a follow-up recorded statement is another plot. In a legitimate claim, follow-up statements should not be necessary. While the adjuster has the duty to properly investigate the claim, he also has the obligation to keep you abreast of the status of your insurance claim. If a claimant is experiencing to the level that he is continuously told that "the claim remains under investigation", then one should assume that a problem of denial was looming. In making claims, investigations are crucial to the final outcome, one of which is referral to the special investigations unit. Such referrals are legitimately a means to investigate potential insurance fraud. However illegitimate referrals represent a process designed to avoid payment of insurance claims. One other trick of insurance companies is examination under oath. This is a formal proceeding taken under oath and is usually convened when the carrier legitimately requires additional detailed information from the policyholder in order to make a coverage decision. When such is used illegitimately, it is aimed at unfairly targeting claims for denial. In either event, if you are called for an examination under oath, it means there is a problem with your claim. Having known these, it is instructive to be on the alert while also considering stand by solution to any such delay tactics. One of the ways to frustrate such evil plots is to continue to cooperate, no matter the approach of the insurer to frustrate you. It is better to assume the position that you have cooperated to the fullest extent possible. This places additional burdens on the insurance company. This is more so as they cannot argue that their processes were delayed solely because you "failed" to cooperate. It is also important that you call the adjuster frequently, behaving courteously as you do. In doing so, always be prepared to ask specific questions about the progress of your claim rather than engaging in boring conversation. Always offer to provide any additional information needed. An insurance company’s failure to properly conclude your legitimate insurance claim suggests the essence of unfair claims handling. Document all activities in anticipation of unfair settlement offers or an outright denial in case your claim delay has qualified as a claim dispute.
Guinness Nigeria has officially begun rewarding consumers under its nationwide ‘Open For More’ National Consumer Promotion (NCP), with an impressive ₦17 million in rewards to 107 winners during the campaign’s first live draw held on July 31, 2026.
The inaugural draw instantly transformed the fortunes of consumers across the country, producing seven new millionaires, who each received ₦1 million, alongside 100 additional winners, who each walked away with ₦100,000. The milestone marks the beginning of a series of weekly live draws that will see hundreds more Nigerians rewarded throughout the promotion.
The seven ₦1 million winners are Marcus Barieepie, Ani Valentine Ogochukwu, Okafor Sochima, Taiwo Adebola, Zubair Rukayat, Oluwatobi Femi, and Ebubechukwu Okolo.
The live draw was conducted under the supervision of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to ensure transparency and fairness. Representatives of the commission present included Dr. Olubunmi Otti, Zonal Coordinator, FCCPC Southwest, and Mrs. Abosede Ogundeji, Surveillance and Investigation Officer.
Speaking during the draw, Ramanathan S, representing Guinness, said the promotion reflects the brand’s enduring commitment to celebrating and rewarding the consumers who have supported Guinness over the years.
“For decades, Nigerians have made Guinness a part of their milestones and celebrations. Today, we are proud to give back by putting ₦17 million directly into the hands of 107 consumers in our very first draw. This is only the beginning. Over the coming weeks, many more Nigerians will experience life-changing rewards as we continue to celebrate the loyalty of the people who have made Guinness part of their stories.”
He added that all weekly draws will continue to be streamed live across Guinness Nigeria’s official platforms, enabling consumers to witness the winner-selection process in real time and reinforcing the transparency and credibility of the promotion. He also encouraged eligible consumers nationwide to participate, noting that every valid entry presents another opportunity to win.
The ‘Open For More’ National Consumer Promotion offers consumers the chance to win ₦1 million every day, ₦100,000 cash prizes for 1,000 winners, and a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado as the grand prize. Altogether, the promotion will reward consumers with more than ₦400 million in cash and prizes.
To participate, consumers simply need to purchase specially marked bottles of Guinness Foreign Extra Stout or Guinness Smooth, locate the unique code beneath the crown cork or can lid, and enter the code via the designated campaign platform.
With ₦17 million already won in its opening draw, the campaign is off to a remarkable start, reinforcing Guinness Nigeria’s commitment to rewarding consumer loyalty through transparent processes and unforgettable experiences that go beyond the product. Consumers are encouraged to look out for specially marked promotional packs and follow Guinness Nigeria’s official communication channels for updates, winner announcements, and details of upcoming draws.
National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has expressed readiness to deepen collaboration with Nigerian universities to promote research, innovation and technology-driven solutions to local challenges.
NITDA, UniAbuja
NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, stated this when the management of Yakubu Gowon University, formerly the University of Abuja (UniAbuja), led by its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, paid a familiarisation visit to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Abdullahi said stronger collaboration between NITDA and tertiary institutions was essential to building a robust innovation ecosystem, developing practical skills and positioning Nigeria for technology-driven economic growth.
He stressed the need for increased investment in research, particularly in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, cybersecurity and cloud computing.
“We need to invest more in in-depth research with universities to build a robust research ecosystem that will help us develop solutions.
“Research will focus on harnessing AI, IoT, blockchain, cybersecurity and cloud technology, among other emerging technologies, to improve our lives and grow our digital economy,” he said.
The DG described universities as critical talent factories required to achieve Nigeria’s digital transformation aspirations.
“NITDA has a vision to make Nigeria a digitally empowered nation. You (UniAbuja) are the talent factory, and we cannot achieve our vision without talented Nigerians.
“The only way to achieve that is by working with institutions like yours. So, we need to build talent,” he said.
Abdullahi also advocated the integration of AI education across disciplines in tertiary institutions, saying students needed practical digital skills to remain relevant in the evolving world of work.
“We can work together to explore ways of introducing AI across the board as a general study course in tertiary institutions.
“Elements of AI should be included in every field of study to equip our students with the hands-on skills for navigating the real world,” he said.
According to him, NITDA is already collaborating with key education sector stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and National Commission for Colleges of Education.
He said the agency was also working to promote digital literacy programmes across all levels of education to ensure that graduates acquire skills relevant to industry requirements.
Earlier, Fawehinmi said the university’s visit was aimed at seeking NITDA’s partnership and support in strengthening digital infrastructure and technology-based training at the institution.
He expressed appreciation for NITDA’s contributions to the Digital Geoscience Centre at the university.
The Vice-Chancellor said the university was willing to collaborate with NITDA on joint research, capacity-building initiatives and innovation programmes capable of contributing to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
“We could go into partnership with you to provide data, collaborative engagements, staff exchanges and joint research hubs, so that we can produce high-level human resources.
“The university is committed to serving as a strategic academic partner to NITDA by providing academic expertise required to advance your national digital transformation initiatives,” he said.
The proposed collaboration is expected to strengthen the link between academic research and industry needs while creating opportunities for technology innovation, skills development and practical solutions to Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.
A New Mexico court has ordered Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to pay $567 million to address the alleged harms caused to young people by its social media platforms.
Meta
The ruling by Judge Bryan Biedscheid came in the second phase of a landmark trial concerning the impact of Meta’s platforms on children and teenagers.
The judge said $420 million of the amount would be dedicated to treatment services for young people, while the remaining funds would support awareness and prevention programmes, screening services and other related costs over the next five years.
The latest financial order comes on top of $375 million in civil penalties awarded against Meta in March after a jury found that the company knowingly harmed children’s mental health and concealed information about child sexual exploitation on its platforms.
During the second phase of the trial, prosecutors asked the court to order fundamental changes to Meta’s platforms, including measures to reduce addictive features, improve age verification and prevent child sexual exploitation through stronger privacy settings and increased oversight.
The court subsequently ordered Facebook and Instagram to introduce banner notifications and informational screens explaining their safety features, recommended practices and tools for addressing inappropriate comments.
The platforms must also regularly display the information, while an educational campaign in New Mexico will be subject to review by the state.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said the ruling sent a clear message that technology companies could be held accountable when their product designs knowingly exposed children to risks.
“Today’s decision is a victory for every parent who has worried about what social media is doing to their child and every child who deserves to grow up safer online,” Torrez said in a statement.
Meta said it would appeal the ruling.
“We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and have been transparent about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors and harmful content,” the company said.
The company said it remained confident in its record of protecting teenagers online and would continue to defend itself against what it described as claims that misrepresented the facts.
On age verification, the court said federal children’s privacy laws restricted Meta’s ability to apply certain verification tools to children under 13.
The court cited the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which limits the collection of personal information from children under 13.
Rather than imposing a blanket age-verification requirement exclusively on Meta, the judge ordered the company to continue improving its age-assurance tools in New Mexico.
The tools include the use of artificial intelligence to estimate users’ ages based on signals such as their social connections and the type of content they post and consume.
Meta was also ordered to attempt to develop a dedicated model for predicting whether users are under 13 within the next two years.
Additionally, the company must request proof of age from Facebook and Instagram users in New Mexico whom it estimates to be under 13.
Where Meta determines that a user is under 13, or under 18 but cannot determine a specific age, it must treat the user as being under the applicable age threshold until the user verifies their age.
The court further ordered Meta to partner with schools or a child-safety organisation to establish a reporting portal through which school officials can flag users suspected to be under 13.
Meta must also delete personal information it has collected from users under 13 and submit progress reports twice a year detailing its compliance with the court-ordered measures.
The ruling comes as Meta faces thousands of lawsuits from families alleging that children have been harmed by social media use.
The company is also preparing for another trial in California amid the growing litigation over the impact of social media platforms on young people.
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