The Federal Mortgage
Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has appealed to the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to ensure that insurance companies comply with the National Housing Fund (NHF) Act.
The Managing Director, FMBN, Mr Gimba Ya’u-Kumo, made the appeal when he led a delegation on a visit to the Commissioner for Insurance, NAICOM, Mr Mohammed Kari.
Ya’u-Kumo said,“ The Act prescribes that every registered insurance company invest a minimum of 20 per cent of non-life funds and 40 per cent of life funds in real property development.’’
He said the Act also required that “not less than 50 per cent of the funds should be paid into the NHF through FMBN’’.
The managing director also called on NAICOM to expand insurance products in the country and introduce title and mortgage insurance products to provide a more conducive environment for investment for mortgages.
Ya’u-Kumo explained that when all these were implemented, it would help promote the mortgage industry and also grow the insurance market.
“If the Insurance market is widened up, it is going to be a win-win situation for both the insurance sector and the mortgage market.
“ There is a close correlation between the mortgage and insurance sub-sectors in developed economies because mortgage markets utilise the long-term funds generated from insurance premiums.
“ The funds are used for housing development and therefore offer a comparatively safer option in the investment portfolio mix for insurance funds.
Ya’u-Kumo said FMBN’s major mandate was the collection and management of the NHF which was a pool for long-term funds for providing affordable housing for low and medium income earners.
He said the collaboration of NAICOM was important to protect the assets of the people and on the long run contribute to NAICOM’s contribution to the GDP.
According to him, the bank has embarked on several innovations to help low income earners and also grow the mortgage and housing market.
He they included NHF e-Collection platform with NHF e-Card and rent-to-own.
Responding, the Commissioner for Insurance, Kari, said the commission would collaborate with the Insurance Committee to look into the request by the FMBN.
“This is something we will deliver to the committee to work the final details; so it does not look like we are enforcing something on them.
“When the insurance committee meets, we will invite you as stakeholders to come and give address to all the chief executives of the industry to explain to them your ideas and programmes.
Kari said the compliance of the NHF Act as proposed by the NMBN would engender sanity in the operations of both the mortgage market and the insurance sector.
He commended the bank for the various innovative programmes it embarked on, saying that it would be beneficial to low income earners in the country.

The insurance commissioner urged the bank and other MDAs in the country to employ the services of insurance experts in their insurance departments.