By Owen Eresoyen, Benin with agency report
The police command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said it has commenced the enforcement of the mandatory Third-Party Motor Vehicle Insurance in the FCT.
A statement by the police public relations officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, on Sunday in Abuja said the enforcement followed the directive of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun.
The IGP had, on January 10, announced that the enforcement of third-party insurance for vehicle owners nationwide would begin on February 1.
The IGP made the announcement when he received Olusegun Omosehin, the Commissioner for Insurance, National Insurance Commission.
Ms Adeh said vehicle owners in the FCT were required to possess a valid third-party insurance policy before operating on public roads and urged those without insurance to get insured immediately to avoid penalties.
According to her, the insurance is a mandatory policy designed to protect road users from financial losses due to accidents.
She said the insurance policy covers damages caused to another person’s vehicle, property, or bodily injury resulting from an accident involving the insured vehicle.
Ms Adeh said the policy was to ensure that accident victims were given necessary compensation and to reduce the financial burden on vehicle owners.
She said non-compliance would attract strict consequences, adding that the enforcement was part of efforts to ensure adherence to road safety regulations and protection of road users.
Ms Adeh said the Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of the FCT, Olatunji Disu, had directed officers assigned to carry out the enforcement to be professional, courteous and firm in discharging their duties.
She said the CP warned the officers against any form of harassment or extortion of motorists and urged the public to cooperate with the police.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Commissioner, Betty Otimenyin, has charged law abiding citizens in the state, especially vehicle owners, to get third party insurance in order to avoid sanction.
She said the State Police Command, in compliance with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has commenced the enforcement of third party insurance across the State.
The Commissioner in a statement signed by the command’s spokesperson, CSP Moses Yamu, charged the people to comply with the directive.
“Law abiding people of the State, especially vehicle owners, should ensure that they get third party insurance which insures one (third party) against damage to vehicles, property or bodily injuries that may arise from an accident”.
“Therefore, anyone who fails to get his or her vehicle particulars especially the third party insurance updated would face sanctions”. she said.
