Against the backdrop of the approval of insurance premium paid by motorists in Nigeria as approved by the Nigeria Insurers Association, some motorists have registered their displeasure as they claim the action is aimed at “short changing” ordinary Nigerians.
The notice for the approval of the premium, according to the insurers, is pursuant to section 68 of the Insurance Act 2003, which imposes a flat rate of N5,000 for private car owners; N7,500 for owners of buses/goods; N10,000 for commercial truck owners and N1,500 for motorcyclists.
An investigation by Abuja Trust shows that most motorists are divided about the matter as some claimed that the money being charged as insurance premium is too high.
Here are some excerpts from some of the motorists:
Kazeem Layode, a taxi driver who plies Lugbe route, said that most motorists hardly make enough money to buy fuel apart from “the tips the police and other security agent take from us.”
He also said that the union had done nothing to help alleviate the situation as they have not done anything to help them (motorists).
John Yakubu, who plies Nyanya route, however feigned ignorance as he said that he had not received any notice and neither his friends (motorists) but he said that the amount was too much.
Abraham Ejike, a motorist who plies the axis of Abuja, however said that his concern was based on the multiple taxes being received by both the government and park officials.
He said that the system should be harmonised so that every motorist would know how much to pay at each given time.
Motorcyclists were not left over as they bear their minds in the matter. Some that spoke to Abuja Trust claimed that the matter of paying one form of “taxes” as they claimed has gone from bad to worse.
Joseph Emmanuel said that for him to pay the sum of N1,500 would amount to giving nearly a week’s wages. He said that the problem was not just paying the insurance but the number of times they would be forced to pay.
In his words, “somebody will tell you to pay insurance now and when you go to another place, another person will tell you to pay again.”
Umar Shehu however, claimed ignorance of the matter because as he claimed, the motorcycle is not his, but he told Abuja Trust that even if he is to pay he would either challenge the official(s) or outright runway because in Abuja the poor are not allowed to live.
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