Economy
Agusto & Co Predicts 8% Growth for Insurance Sector in 2017
By Dipo Olowookere
A report for the insurance industry for 2017 has been released by Agusto & Co, a rating firm based in Nigeria.
In the report, Agusto & Co noted that the role of insurance in the Nigerian economy cannot be overstated and that its strategic importance in underwriting business and individual risks is evident in an estimated gross premium income (GPI) of S58;356 billion generated by the insurance industry in 2016, reflecting a 10 percent growth over FY2015.
The agency said it projects a moderated growth rate of 8 percent on account of the recession which is expected to have significant impact on major business lines in 2017.
It also estimates that 28 percent of the Industry’s GPI was paid out as claims in 2016, helping businesses and individuals recover from losses quickly.
The insurance industry is a major contributor to economic growth and development as premiums collected are invested in banks and deployed to fund government projects, the report said.
In 2016, the Nigerian insurance industry invested an estimated S58;178 billion in the banking industry as placements & deposits and held Treasury instruments of over S58;270 billion.
“We expect increased investments in government securities in 2017 as Insurers take advantage on higher interest rates,” the report said.
Opportunities in the Insurance Industry abound as the Industry’s penetration rate stood at 0.4 percent in 2015.
Insurance density rate which measures GPI as a proportion of population is $8.3 compared to Kenya’s $36.4 and South Africa’s $970.8.
It said going forward, evolving risks such as job losses, cyber risks among others will offer prospects for the development of new insurance products.
“We expect increased government spending in the near term which will support GPI growth.
“In addition, micro insurance- which allows people purchase insurance cover in small daily premiums payable using mobile phones- is expected to gain traction in the near term with insurers using various avenues to reach the uncaptured market,” the report said.
“The current inflationary pressures have an upside on the Industry’s investment portfolio performance as interest rates soar to overcome rising inflation and negative returns on investments.
“We expect these positives to offset the negatives in the industry; therefore, we attach a stable outlook to the Insurance Industry. The industry will also benefit from a probable devaluation and continued growth in life business in 2017,” it added.
Like most other Industries operating in Nigeria, the Insurance Industry was adversely impacted by the downturn in the economy which had its roots in declining crude oil prices since 2014.
The Nigerian economy went into a recession in the third quarter of 2016 following two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth.
This slowed down activities in various industries including the insurance industry.
Inflationary pressures also had a negative effect on cost of operations as well as the value of long term savings. Reduced consumer purchasing power threatened GPI growth and increased surrenders in the life business segment.
In the non-life segment we observe a preference for less expensive insurance covers such as third party insurance cover as against comprehensive motor insurance cover.
The foreign exchange demand management tactic adopted by the Central Bank of Nigeria in controlling outflows from already depleted reserves resulted in a scarcity of FX which in turn impacted dollar denominated premiums negatively.
The naira depreciated significantly against the dollar, trading at S58;305/$ to S58;315/$ in the interbank market and as high as 358;498/$ in the black market.
The resultant effect is a reduction in the insurance cover on assets such as motor vehicles whose prices have almost tripled. We expect these FX challenges to persist in 2017.
The industry’s regulatory environment is likely to change in the near term in response to the current macroeconomic climate.
Regulators are beginning to emphasize risk profiles of insurance companies as against amount of capital held. The proposed Risk Based Supervision Framework which is expected to be implemented in the near term will prompt reviews of business strategies.
“As a result, we foresee mergers and acquisitions in the Industry as well as foreign direct investments in the near term.
“Nonetheless, Agusto & Co is of the opinion that restrictions in the current FX regime may impede foreign direct investments.
Another regulation that will shape operations in the insurance industry is the Bancassurance Guidelines which has received significant attention from regulators in recent times,” the report said.
The competitive landscape remains intense across major business lines such as motor, fire, general accidents, oil& gas and life insurance.
The Agusto and Co Nigerian Insurance report ranks Industry players by various indices across major business lines, providing a snapshot of key performance indicators at a glance.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria attracted $10.37 billion in capital importation in the first quarter of 2026, representing an 83.8 per cent increase from the $5.64 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The latest Capital Importation Report released by the stats bureau also showed that capital inflows rose by 60.97 per cent from $6.44 billion recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The report stated, “In Q1 2026, total capital importation into Nigeria stood at $10.37bn, higher than $5.64bn recorded in Q1 2025, indicating an increase of 83.83 per cent. In comparison to the preceding quarter, capital importation increased by 60.97 per cent from $6.44bn in Q4 2025.”
Analysis of the inflows showed that portfolio investment remained the dominant source of foreign capital, accounting for $9.86 billion or 95.09 per cent of the total amount imported into the economy.
The stats office disclosed that foreign direct investment stood at $135.08 million, representing only 1.30 per cent of total capital inflows, while other investments accounted for $374.48 million or 3.61 per cent.
“Portfolio Investment ranked top with $9.86bn, accounting for 95.09 per cent, followed by Other Investment with $374.48m, accounting for 3.61 per cent. Foreign Direct Investment recorded the least with $135.08m, representing 1.30 per cent of total capital importation in Q1 2026,” the report added.
A further breakdown showed that money market instruments attracted the largest share of portfolio investments at $6.50 billion, while investments in bonds amounted to $3.23 billion.
Equity investments under the portfolio category stood at $131.81 million.
The banking sector emerged as the biggest destination for foreign capital during the quarter, attracting $7.55 billion, representing 72.79 per cent of total inflows.
The financing sector followed with $2.43 billion or 23.42 per cent, while the production and manufacturing sector attracted $152.27 million, accounting for 1.47 per cent of total capital imported.
Other sectors that received foreign investments included shares, trading, agriculture, information technology services, telecommunications, oil and gas, transport, construction, healthcare, education, and consultancy services.
The United Kingdom remained Nigeria’s largest source of foreign capital, accounting for $5.08 billion or 49.01 per cent of total inflows. The United States followed with $3.18 billion, representing 30.69 per cent, while South Africa accounted for $983.83 million or 9.49 per cent.
Among financial institutions, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited received the highest capital inflow during the quarter at $4.41 billion, representing 42.56 per cent of the total.
Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc followed with $2.78 billion or 26.79 per cent, while Rand Merchant Bank handled $930.82 million, accounting for 8.97 per cent.
Other banks that facilitated capital inflows into the country during the period included Citibank Nigeria, Access Bank, First Bank of Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, FCMB, Ecobank, Fidelity Bank, and United Bank for Africa.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The 2026 licensing round for oil fields is expected to commence in the third quarter of 2026, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has disclosed.
This followed the approval of President Bola Tinubu, who doubles as the Minister of Petroleum Resources.
A statement issued by the spokesperson of NUPRC, Mr Eniola Akinkuotu, on Wednesday said the authorisation is in compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
“We are also fortunate that the President and Minister of Petroleum Resources has approved the 2026 Licensing Round,” the chief executive of the agency, Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesa, was quoted as saying in the statement when she received representatives of Meren Energy (formerly Africa Oil) in Abuja yesterday.
Mrs Eyesan, who expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the 2025 Licensing Round so far, stated that the commercial bid would take place in July, after which the next licensing round would commence.
The NUPRC boss said the heightened participation in the 2025 Licensing Round was a testament to the fact that Nigeria was headed in the right direction.
She said the rise in investments, coupled with the upswing in production, was evidence that Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, had become attractive.
“We are in the process of finalising the 2026 launch, which will happen by the third quarter at the latest. So, this is the make-or-break point, and we want to make sure we make it,” she stated.
In his remarks, the chief executive of Meren Energy, Mr Oliver Quinn, said the current reforms had inspired the company to increase its investments in Nigeria, hence its interest in asset divestments and licensing rounds, revealing that his company’s investment priority is Africa, of which Nigeria ranks as number one.
“We have operated in Agbami, Akpo and Egina world-class fields. I think till date, in 20 years, about $11bn in capital from our side has gone into these assets, and about $4bn has gone to tax and royalties,” he said, adding, “Nigeria remains the core of our business today because of the quality of these assets.”
According to Mr Quinn, Meren Energy is pressuring its partners on these assets to deepen their investments and then increase overall production, noting that the energy firm was the first in Nigeria to sell crude oil to the Dangote refinery and will continue to fulfil its Domestic Crude Supply Obligation so long as the price remains right.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange extended its gains by 0.91 per cent on Wednesday, June 3, spurred by three price gainers led by FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc, which rose by N13.90 to sell N210.41 per share versus the previous day’s N196.51 per share. MRS Oil appreciated by N10 to N190.00 per unit from N180.00 per unit, and Food Concepts Plc added 5 Kobo to sell at N3.00 per share versus N2.95 per share.
As a result, the market capitalisation increased by N23.91 billion to N2.660 trillion from N2.636 trillion, and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) gained 39.97 points to finish at 4,446.27 points, in contrast to Tuesday’s 4,406.30 points.
The NASD exchange witnessed three price losers at midweek, led by Nipco Plc, which shrank by N21.30 to close at N325.97 per unit compared with the previous session’s N347.27 per unit, Nitrox Industrial Gases Plc went down by N1.20 to quote at N24.30 per share versus the preceding session’s N25.50 per share, and Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc weakened to by 69 Kobo to N75.41 per unit from N76.10 per unit.
The volume of trades yesterday significantly improved by 71.5 per cent to 527,221 units from Tuesday’s 307,363 units, as the value of transactions soared by 49.9 per cent to N64.2 million from the preceding session’s N49.9 million, and the number of deals surged by 9.5 per cent to 46 deals from 42 deals.
When trading activities ended for the day, Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc remained the most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis with 3.4 billion units valued at N8.4 billion, followed by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc with 2.3 billion units worth N6.5 billion, and CSCS Plc with 64.6 million units exchanged for N4.4 billion.
GNI Plc also ended the session as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis with 3.4 billion units sold for N8.4 billion, followed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units traded for N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units transacted for N415.7 million.
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