Business
Insurance Operators Decry Poor Industry Returns
The insurance sector of the nation’s economy has been described as performing below its potentials as the companies in the sector released the financial results to the public.
According to capital market operators the sector has not lived up to expectation despite high hopes by the shareholders during the recapitalisation exercise in the industry.
However, they believe that the sector still has more to offer as it is still performing below its potential on the Exchange in terms of capital appreciation and returns on investment to its shareholders.
Yomi Osunrinde, the General Manager of Integrated Trust and Investment Limited, stated that the poor performance of insurance companies is a reflection of what is happening in the economy.
Osunnde added that the global economic meltdown seriously affected the sector. He pointed out that the consciousness level of insurance in the country is still low, stating that by the time the need for insurance is made compulsory by the government the level of their profitability will go up and they will be able to generate a lot of income. He foresees bright prospect in the industry in the nearest future.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Laksworth Investment & Securities Limited, Mr. Kayode Awotite, noted that insurance services cannot be likened to that of the banks.
Awotite agreed with Osunnde’s view that insurance companies should embark on enlightenment campaign to change the age-long perception that insurance companies find it difficult to remit premium as and at when due.
However, Mr. Emma Eze, a broker with DBSL Securities Limited, described insurance stock as penny stocks which are associated with low dividend payout.
He noted that all of them are kin a stable colum because their dividend and bonus is constant even though it may not be impressive.
Recently, Regency Alliance and Staco Insurance Plc released their audited results ended December 31, 2008.
Regency Alliance posted a turnover of N1.71 billion as against N1.21 billion representing an increase of 40.91%. the company’s profit after tax stood at N312.06 million compared to N237.54 million in 2007.
While Staco Insurance’s result showed a turnover of N4.38 billion as against N2.82 billion; its profit after tax was N543.42 million, down fromN758.01 million in 2007, indicating 28.44% drop.
Board of directors of both companies recommended a dividend of N0.02 and a bonus scrip issue of new share for every 10 shares held by shareholders.
Credit to Nigeria’s private sector rose to N83.26 trillion in June 2026 from N81.04 trillion in May, signifying a positive balance of N2.22 trillion month-on-month.
Year-on-year, the figure represents a nine per cent increase compared with the N76.13 trillion recorded in June 2025. The latest figures come as the CBN continues to balance efforts to control inflation with the need to support economic growth and expand credit to businesses.
The CBN data shows that credit to Nigeria’s private sector increased by approximately 2.74 per cent month-on-month between May and June 2026. Also, the CBN data noted that credit to the government fell slightly to N40.03 trillion from N40.38 trillion. Other assets, net, dropped to N10.76 trillion from N12.63 trillion.
The credit surge signifies sustained growth in lending to businesses and other private-sector borrowers during the month. The rise in private sector credit was recorded alongside an increase in net domestic credit, despite declines in credit to government and other assets.
Further analysis of the report says that compared with June 2025, private sector credit rose by about N7.13 trillion yea-on-year but net domestic credit increased by approximately N1.87 trillion during the month.
The CBN’s relatively tight monetary policy stance notwithstanding, more banks still loaded funds to the private sector within the period. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) held its 306th meeting on July 20 and 21.
The Committee reviewed recent developments in the global and domestic economies, assessed emerging risks to the outlook and considered their implications for monetary policy and retained all rates.
The Committee decided to retain the Monetary Policy Rate at 26.5 per cent; the Standing Facilities Corridor around the MPR at +50/-450 basis points and retain the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) for Deposit Money Banks at 45.00 per cent, Merchant Banks at 16.00 per cent, and non-TSA public sector deposits at 75.00 per cent.
The MPC decision means that credit extension in the private sector will likely continue to rise because of rising confidence in the sector and calls by stakeholders for banks to invest in the private scetor instead of government securities.
