Group to expand insurance adoption in ECOWAS states

By : Bankole Orimisan

Date: 24 March 2025 3:03am WAT

FILES-NIGERIA-MALI-BURKINA-NIGER-COUP-POLITICS-SAHEL-EXOWAS

(FILES) (FILES) Flags of Economic Community of West African States Commission (ECOWAS) countries are displayed inside the Nigeria presidential villa, after the extraordinary session of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government in Abuja, Nigeria on February 24, 2024. The withdrawal of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States takes effect on Wednesday after a year of political tensions, fracturing the region and leaving the bloc with an uncertain future. On January 29, 2024, the three countries led by military regimes formally notified ECOWAS of their desire for "immediate" withdrawal. But the texts of the West African organisation required one-year's notice for it to be effective. (Photo by Kola Sulaimon / AFP)

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The Nigerian National Bureau of the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme has reiterated its commitment to increasing motor insurance coverage across the region.

Speaking at the bilateral meeting between the National Bureau of Benin and Nigeria in Lagos, the Chairman of the group, Kunle Ahmed, said the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme was established under ECOWAS Protocol A/PI/5/82 to provide unified insurance coverage for third-party liabilities, facilitating the free movement of motorists across the region.

The scheme operates through a network of national bureaus, with the Nigerian National Bureau playing a vital role in handling claims arising from international motor traffic accidents within the region.

According to Ahmed, the meeting was not just a routine engagement but a testament to the collective commitment to strengthening the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme as a vehicle for seamless regional integration and enhanced motor insurance coverage across member states.

He noted that the agenda of the bureau was strategic: to address outstanding claims, identify and resolve points of divergence as well as create a more structured and efficient framework for claim settlements.

Ahmed said that the effort was not only about financial reconciliations but about reinforcing trust, operational effectiveness and service excellence in fulfilling the objectives of the Brown Card Scheme.

He explained that the ECOWAS Brown Card stands as a symbol of regional cooperation, ensuring that accident victims, regardless of nationality, receive due compensation across borders.

“As we deliberate, I urge us to engage with a spirit of openness, collaboration and a shared vision for an improved and efficient claim-handling process.
“I do not doubt that our discussions will lead to actionable outcomes that will expedite settlements, enhance synergy between our bureaus, and ultimately improve the operational efficiency of our scheme.

“The decisions we take here will not only resolve past challenges but will shape a more resilient and responsive future for the ECOWAS Brown Card system,” he said.