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African Alliance Insurance May Get Fresh N7bn Injection Amid Solvency Margin Deficiency

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African Alliance Insurance solvency margin deficiency

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

One of the underwriting companies in Nigeria, African Alliance Insurance Plc, has disclosed that it is almost getting fresh capital of up to N7 billion from “an independent investor” to help shore up its capital base.

The firm revealed this in its audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited and analysed by Business Post.

The external auditors, Ukwuegbu, Ogbeleje & Co, in their note, pointed out that the existence of African Alliance Insurance was at risk because of a deficiency in its solvency margin.

A solvency margin is the equivalent of a capital adequacy ratio (CAR) in the banking sector, which measures the minimum capital base of an organisation in the financial institution.

In summary, solvency margin is a minimum excess on an insurer’s assets over its liabilities set by regulators, in this case, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

For underwriters operating in the life insurance business in Nigeria, they are required to have a solvency margin of N2 billion, but African Alliance Insurance has a negative solvency margin of N4.04 billion.

In its comments in its report on the financial statements, the auditors said, “Without modifying our opinion, we draw attention to note 5.5 to the financial statements which indicate negative solvency margin of N4.04 billion. This is below the minimum regulatory capital of N2 billion required for a life insurance business.

“The total admissible assets of the company less the net insurance and investment contract liabilities were a deficit of N29.8 billion as of December 31, 2022. These conditions indicate the existence of a material uncertainty that may cast doubt on the company’s ability to continue as a going concern.”

But the company said it has taken some capital management policies to address the issue raised by the auditors, including the “maintenance, as a minimum, of capital sufficient to meet the statutory requirement,” and “maintenance of an appropriate level of liquidity at all times.”

“The company further ensures that it can meet its expected capital and financing needs at all times, having regard to business plans to guarantee its going concern status, forecast and any strategic initiatives,” it added.

The insurance company noted that its “board of directors are at the final stages of concluding arrangement with an independent investor with plans to inject about N7 billion into the company as fresh capital,” noting that “the process involves the conduct of due diligence on the financial statements of the company.” The board also emphasised that the success of this transaction is not under its control and “there is material uncertainty as to the probability that this transaction will succeed.”

A look at the performance of the firm in the fiscal year under review showed that its gross premium written (GPW) shrank by 5.56 per cent to N6.8 billion from N7.2 billion in the 2023 financial year due to lower earnings from its individual life insurance product, as gross premium income slightly moved up to N7.1 billion from N7.0 billion.

In the year, the insurer suffered a loss before tax of N2.9 billion versus a pre-tax profit of N2.2 billion in 2021, just as it closed the period with a net loss of N2.9 billion in 2022 compared with a net profit of N2.4 billion in 2021 fiscal year.

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Economy

NGX RegCo Cautions Investors on Recent Price Movements

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NGX RegCo

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The investing public has been advised to exercise due diligence before trading stocks on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.

This caution was given by the NGX Regulation Limited (NGX RegCo), the independent regulatory arm of the NGX Group Plc.

The advisory became necessary in response to notable price movements observed in the shares of certain listed companies over recent trading sessions.

On Monday, the bourse suspended trading in the shares of newly-listed Zichis Agro-allied Industries Plc. The company’s stocks gained almost 900 per cent within a month of its listing on Customs Street.

In a statement today, NGX RegCo urged investors to avoid speculative trading based on unverified information and to consult licensed intermediaries such as stockbrokers or investment advisers when needed.

It explained that its advisory is part of its standard market surveillance functions, as it serves as a measured reminder for investors to prioritise informed and disciplined decision-making.

The notice emphasised that the Exchange will continue to monitor market activities closely in line with its mandate to ensure a fair, orderly, and transparent market.

“NGX RegCo encourages all investors to base their decisions on publicly available information, including a thorough assessment of company fundamentals, financial performance, and risk profile,” a part of the disclosure said.

It reassured all stakeholders that the NGX remains stable, well-regulated, and resilient, saying the platform continues to foster an environment where investors can participate with confidence, supported by robust oversight and transparent market operations.

“Our primary responsibility is to maintain a level playing field where market participants can trade with confidence, backed by timely and accurate information.

“This advisory is a routine communication, reinforcing that sound fundamentals, not speculation, remain the foundation for sustainable investment outcomes. We are fully committed to preserving the integrity and stability of our market,” the chief executive of NGX RegCo, Mr Olufemi Shobanjo, stated.

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Economy

Stronger Taxpayer Confidence, Others Should Determine Tax Reform Success—Tegbe

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four tax reform bills

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The chairman of the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee (NTPIC), Mr Joseph Tegbe, has tasked the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) to measure the success of the new tax laws by higher voluntary compliance rates, lower administrative costs, fewer disputes, faster resolution cycles, and stronger taxpayer confidence.

Speaking at the 2026 Leadership Retreat of the agency, Mr Tegbe said, “Sustainable revenue performance is built on trust and efficiency, not enforcement intensity,” emphasising that the legitimacy and predictability of the system are more critical than punitive measures.

He underscored that the country’s tax reform journey is at a critical juncture where effective implementation will determine long-term fiscal outcomes.

The NTPIC chief stressed that tax policy must serve as an enabler of governance, and should embody simplicity, equity, predictability, and administrability at scale.

These principles, he explained, foster voluntary compliance, reduce operational friction, and strengthen investor confidence. He warned that ad-hoc adjustments or policy drift could undermine reform momentum, unsettle businesses, and deter investment, which thrives on predictable rules rather than shifting announcements. Structured sequencing, clear transition mechanisms, and continuous feedback between policymakers and administrators are therefore critical to sustaining reform credibility.

Mr Tegbe further argued that revenue reform cannot succeed in isolation. Achieving sustainable gains requires a whole-of-government approach, leveraging robust taxpayer identification systems, integrated financial data, efficient dispute resolution, and harmonised coordination across federal and sub-national levels. This approach, he said, reduces leakages, eliminates multiple taxation, and reinforces confidence in the system.

He noted that the passage of four new tax laws marks only the beginning of a broader reform agenda, describing the initiative as a systemic recalibration of Nigeria’s fiscal architecture, rather than a routine policy update.

He further asserted that the true measure of success will be the credibility of implementation, not the design of the laws themselves.

The NRS, he noted, functions as the nation’s “Revenue System Integrator,” with outcomes reflecting the strength of an interconnected ecosystem that encompasses policy clarity, enforcement consistency, digital infrastructure, dispute resolution efficiency, and intergovernmental coordination.

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Economy

NUPENG Seeks Clarity on New Oil, Gas Executive Order

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NUPENG

By Adedapo Adesanya

The National Union of Natural and Gas Workers (NUPENG) has expressed deep concern over the Executive Order by President Bola Tinubu mandating the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to remit directly to the federation account.

In a statement signed by its president, Mr William Akporeha, over the weekend in Lagos, the union noted that the absence of detailed public engagement had naturally generated tension within the sector and heightened restiveness among workers, who are anxious to know how the new directive may affect their employment, welfare and job security, especially as it affects NNPC and other major operations in the oil and gas sector.

It pointed out that the industry remained the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, contributing significantly to national revenue, foreign exchange earnings, and employment.

The NUPENG president affirmed that any policy shift, particularly one introduced through an Executive Order, has far-reaching consequences for regulatory frameworks, Investment decisions, operational standards, and labour relations within the sector.

According to him, “there is an urgent need for clarity on the scope and objectives of the Executive Order -What precise reforms or adjustments does it introduce? “Its implications for the Petroleum Industry Act -Does the Order amend, interpret, or expand existing provisions under PIA?

“Impact on workers and existing labour agreements-Will it affect job security, conditions of service, Collective Bargaining agreements or ongoing restructuring processes within the industry? “Effects on indigenous participation and local content development -How will it affect Nigerian companies and employment opportunities for citizens?”

He warned that without proper consultation and explanation, misinterpretations of the Executive Order may spread across the industry, potentially destabilising operations and undermining industrial harmony that stakeholders have worked hard to sustain.

“Though our union remains committed to constructive engagement, national development and stability of the oil and gas sector, however, we are duty-bound and constitutionally bound to protect the rights and welfare and job security of our members whose livelihoods depend on a clear, fair and predictable policy framework,” Mr Akporeha further stated.

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