The Nigeria Police has stepped in to correct misinformation and misleading comments credited to some social media influencers and activists antagonising the police asserting that the Police is out to issue and enforce 3rd party insurance policy, and using same to rake in money.
The Nigeria Police Force clears that it does not issue third-party insurance as it has been misconstrued by some individuals. The responsibility for obtaining this mandatory insurance lies with vehicle owners through their respective insurance companies. However, The Force reiterated that it has commenced the enforcement operations of the insurance policy with effect from February 1, 2025, aiming to enhance road safety and protect the rights of accident victims.
In light of this enforcement, the Force therefore cautions social media influencers and activists against spreading misinformation.
In an interview in several media outlets on Saturday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Barrister Abiodun Amole described the directive by the police to enforce third-party insurance nationwide as unconstitutional.
IGP Egbetokun had earlier ordered officers across the country to begin enforcement, with the operation commencing on February 1st.
Reacting to the IGP directive, Amole insisted that the move by the police was beyond their legal mandate. “In my humble opinion, the Police lack the power to enforce the third-party insurance policy among motorists in Nigeria,” he stated.
He further explained that an insurance policy is a contractual agreement between the insurer and the insured, and it is not within the police’s jurisdiction to enforce such agreements.
“The Police cannot confer on itself the power not given to it by law, the Police Act,” Amole asserted. Citing legal precedents, he argued that unless explicitly stated in the Police Act, the force cannot assume authority over matters not assigned to it by law.
“If it had been the intention of the legislature that the Nigeria Police should enforce the third-party insurance policy, it would have been expressly stated in the Police Act. It is not so stated and therefore cannot be read or imported into it by the police authorities under any guise whatsoever,” he said.
His remarks add to the ongoing debate on the legality of the police’s role in enforcing third-party insurance compliance among motorists.
Nevertheless, this opinion is countered with the argument that in Nigeria, the enforcement of third-party motor insurance is mandated by the Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) Act of 1950, which requires all motorists to have at least third-party insurance coverage. The Nigeria Police Force, as the primary law enforcement agency, is responsible for ensuring compliance with this and other traffic-related laws.
Others with contrary opinion assert that the opinion that police lacks the authority to enforce third-party insurance appears to be a legal opinion that may not align with the established statutory framework. The Police are empowered to enforce laws related to vehicle insurance, and motorists are required to comply with these regulations.
Therefore, the claim that the police lack the power to enforce third-party insurance does not align with the current legal framework in Nigeria.
Expanding on this, insurance stakeholders said insurance entities and professionals are on the spot, and have another opportunity to make the correct and assert desired narrative about insurance!
They quickly point to the the 5 minutes video by VeryDarkMan VDM, one of Nigeria’s leading social media influencers on the enforcement of the Third Party Motor Insurance by the Nigeria Police Force. Several who reacted said, “You’ll vomit at the level of ignorance spewed at such level about how insurance works.
Another social media jab at the enforcement goes thus “And the policeman stopped me and said “Oga where is your third party insurance” and I said I have comprehensive insurance, and he said “By IG instructions, na only third party we recognize o, so go do your third party insurance as that comprehensive is no longer valid “
Capping the flurry of opinions an involved stakeholder said. “Thank God, the Police has responded and corrected the wrong impression, but what would our insurance entities and professionals do?”
