To ensure that consumers and vehicle inspection officers were able to verify vehicle insurance across different parts of the country with or without internet access, the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) has launched Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) Code.
The code|: *565*11# will enable consumers and offers in change of vehicle monitoring and inspection to validate genuiness and validity of vehicle insurance anywhere in the country.
The NIA it would be recalled had in 2001 launched the Nigerian Insurance Industry Database (NIID, which held capture insurance policies obtained by motorist’s real time online on the internet and through dedicated hand held devices. Today, the platform to date has only captured about 2 million vehicles, underscoring the high prevalence of fake and parallel market operators
Speaking at the official launch of the code in Lagos, Tope Smart, chairman of the NIA said this represents yet another giant step towards bringing insurance closer to the people and ultimately eliminating fake insurance certificates in the market.
Smart said the USSD works independent of internet connectivity. In this instance, any mobile phone (not necessarily a smartphone) would communicate with the NIID system to retrieve policy status whenever required.
He said “It is hoped that with the USSD, we would have fully overcome the problems associated with the dedicated devices as it guarantees uninterrupted service throughout the country and on all networks. Our existing and prospective customers now have the opportunity to confirm the genuineness of their respective policies at the time of purchase to avoid any embarrassment should claim occur.”
He however thank the partners in this journey- Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc. and Courteville Business Solutions Plc. for their support and assured them of more strategic partnerships as we develop other modules to improve insurance business in Nigeria.
“The success recorded so far cannot be complete without acknowledging the co-operation and support received from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Vehicle Inspection Services (VIS) of various States, Nigeria Police Force (NPF), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and other stakeholders in the insurance industry.”
