Business
Niger Insurance Pays N1bn Claims To Customers
Niger Insurance Plc paid N1 billion claims to its customers who suffered some losses in 2009, according to the Managing Director, Mr. Justus Uranta.
He told newsmen on Friday in Lagos that the amount, when compared with the 2008 figures, showed an increase of 15 per cent.
Uranta said the company was able to achieve the feat in spite of the global meltdown, which he said had reduced the company’s financial earnings globally.
“In spite of the global financial meltdown last year, Niger Insurance successfully maintained cost operations of risk bearing and claims
settlement.
“The company paid N1 billion claims in 2009, representing 16 per cent increase over the 2008 figures. We have continued to sustain the customers’ confidence over the years,” he added.
Uranta said the company generated a premium income of more than N6.6 billion, representing 25 per cent increase over the 2008 figures.
He said the underwriting profit rose from N2.4 billion in 2008 to N3.8 billion in 2009, representing more than 40 per cent.
The managing director said the company was going through a corporate transformation and re-engineering, tagged “Niger Enterprise Strategy Transformation (NEST)’’.
He said the key elements of NEST were networking through strategic partnership and having global competitive outlook.
Uranta said the company had repackaged its travel insurance partnership with a Spanish Company, MapFre/Asistencia.
He said the company’s travel insurance was now valid for use in any Schengen country.
Business
Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.