General News
Imokhai Applauds Fashola over Law on Insurance for Storey Buildings
After years of expectation and lack of commitment on the part of government to support the compulsory insurance of storied buildings under construction, the Lagos state governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola has broken the culture of silence. Over time, the Nigerian insurance companies have tolled hard to see to the enforcement of the compulsory builders’ liability, a product that promises billions of premiums to insurers. It was in the light of the above that Mr. Tom Imokhai, managing director, Standard Alliance Insurance Plc, recently applauded the giant strides of the governor whose law now makes it mandatory for developers to provide insurance c certificates as a prerequisite for government approval. The SA boss described the governor’s action as “a bold step to enforce the compulsory builders’ liability insurance policy through the Building Control Bill it signed into law.”
The law would make it mandatory for developers of houses in the state, especially storey buildings, to obtain insurance certificate as a condition for getting government approval. While hailing the bold move by the governor, he stated that the action “would mean good business for the general underwriting companies in the state if compliance was fully pursued.”
According to him,” we, in the sector, have been expecting this supportive move by all state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to give bite to the efforts of the Commissioner for Insurance. With this bold move by the Lagos Government, we hope that other states and FCT would follow.” He added that there are a lot of such building projects presently under construction in the various states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. “We need this sort of backing to force builders to comply with securing such appropriate building insurance covers,” he said.
The insurance policy covers the liability to third parties arising from collapse of buildings under construction. Fashola tasked the insurance companies to live up to their billings stressing that the state government has opened a smooth way to ensure that the insurers no longer foot- drag in paying compensation to victims of collapsed buildings It would be recalled that Governor Babatunde Fashola, had stressed at the signing ceremony that the law was an “attempt to curb the menace of building collapse.” The issue of building collapse has been a recurring problem in the state from which lives and property worth billions of naira were lost. Going by the provisions of the new law, it was now “compulsory for builders and developers of buildings that are beyond two floors in Lagos to obtain insurance certificate that will cover general risk as a condition for granting building permit.”
Police in Abuja have uncovered a criminal group making fake diplomatic and government number plates.
Ahmed Sanusi, commissioner of Police FCT, stated this during a press briefing on Friday.
He explained that criminals use these fake plates to dodge security checks and enter restricted areas.
The investigation started soon after Sanusi took office.
He noticed too many unauthorized cars driving around with official government and diplomatic tags.
“I immediately ordered a comprehensive investigation into this disturbing trend,” Sanusi said. He noted that these individuals use the plates as a cover to commit crimes and avoid arrest.
The police have already arrested several people caught using the fake plates.
They have also figured out who is making them.
The manufacturers operate outside Abuja, and police are actively hunting them down.
Sanusi kept their names secret so they would not flee.
He stressed that this is a highly profitable illegal business.
Buyers pay between N500,000 and N1.7 million for a single fake plate.
“This will tell you that they are making such huge expenditure because they have an agenda,” Sanusi explained.
“Now they will face punishment that is bigger than both the cost they incur and the agenda they are planning.”
The commissioner urged residents to report any cars with suspicious diplomatic plates.
He reminded the public that real diplomatic tags follow a very specific format.
A diplomatic number plate in Nigeria is a special vehicle identification tag issued to foreign embassies, high commissions, and accredited international diplomats.
Gavi has approved $500 million to strengthen Nigeria’s immunisation programme, primary healthcare services and long-term vaccine financing.
The move followed high-level discussions between Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, coordinating minister of Health and Social Welfare, ]and Dr. Sania Nishtar, chief executive officer, Gavi in Abuja.
The funding, approved under the Gavi 6.0 programme, will support Nigeria’s efforts to accelerate routine immunisation, sustain polio eradication, expand HPV vaccination, strengthen primary healthcare services, and improve long-term vaccine financing.
Speaking during the meeting, Pate said Nigeria was strengthening its partnership with Gavi to accelerate immunisation, expand primary healthcare services, and ensure sustainable financing for vaccines.
He welcomed Gavi’s country-focused reforms, including the introduction of a predictable five-year funding envelope.
Pate said the US$500 million allocation will enable Nigeria to plan more effectively and deliver life-saving vaccines to more children and vulnerable populations.
The minister also revealed that quarterly visits to primary healthcare centreshad increased from about 10 million in 2023 to more than 45 million, reflecting significant progress in revitalising the country’s primary healthcare system.
Pate welcomed the announcement of a US$600 million pledge by the United States government to Gavi, describing it as a strong endorsement of the alliance’s leadership and the global value of vaccines.
He also commended Nishtar for prioritising Nigeria and praised the closer coordination among Gavi, World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, World Bank, Gates Foundation, and other development partners, describing it as a model that has improved efficiency and aligned support with Nigeria’s health sector reforms.
The minister expressed appreciation to Gavi and its partners for their continued technical and financial support, while calling on state governments to invest more in healthcare and immunisation to complement federal efforts.
For many women, financial independence means the freedom to provide for their families and build a better future. Yet, this remains out of reach due to limited access to opportunities, business support, and secure payment solutions.
Like millions of women in Nigeria determined to be financially independent, Pricillia started with a single PalmPay POS terminal, and as an agent, every successful transaction provided a commission which brought her one step closer to achieving her dream.
Through consistency, discipline, and support from the payment platform, she reinvested her earnings and eventually opened her own provision store.
“I started as just a PalmPay agent with one POS. The consistency of the platform gave me the confidence to expand. With the income I earned, I was able to open my own provision shop.” Priscilla said.
For Priscilla, PalmPay was more than a payment platform. Its secure payment infrastructure gave her the confidence to serve her customers, build trust, and grow her income.
Today, Pricillia has joined the statistics of SMEs powering Nigeria’s economy and PalmPay continues to support her daily operations, helping her receive payments, as she works towards her next business milestone. Her journey is a reminder that when women have access to secure financial tools and opportunities, they can build lasting economic independence.
Speaking on Pricillia’s journey, Femi Hanson, Head of Marketing, PalmPay said: “Providing a secure platform that users can trust, whether for everyday payments or high-value transactions, is central to our vision of advancing financial inclusion. Priscilla’s story reflects our commitment to supporting the ambitions of Nigerians by providing a platform they can rely on to grow their finances. After all, seamless banking begins with security, and every successful transaction reinforces the trust our users place in us.”
Priscilla stands among thousands of PalmPay agents nationwide who are helping to expand financial access across Nigeria while earning commissions to create sustainable sources of income for themselves.
Every payment tells a story. It begins with trust, the confidence that your money is secure and that financial services are accessible. And when that opportunity reaches women, it creates ripple effects that transform families, strengthen communities, and drive economic growth.
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