Nigeria has hosted the first zonal meeting of the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme in Abuja, aimed at modernising and enhancing the sub-regional insurance framework to promote free movement and regional integration across West Africa.
According to The PUNCH, held between April 23 and 26, 2025, the four-day event brought together Executive Secretaries of National Bureaux, ECOWAS Commission representatives, regulatory authorities, and strategic partners.
The meeting had as its theme: “50 Years of Sub-Regional Integration: Contribution of the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme to the Mechanism of Free Movement of People, Goods and Services within the Sub-Region.”
Chairman of the House Committee on Insurance and Actuarial Matters, Hon. Ahmadu Jaha—represented by David Fuoh—reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to supporting regional frameworks that foster integration.
“We are committed to policies that will continue to safeguard citizens and foster seamless mobility within the sub-region,” Fuoh said.
Commissioner for Insurance in Nigeria, Mr. Olusegun Omosehin, highlighted the need for greater compliance, digitisation, and transparency in the administration of the Brown Card Scheme. “This scheme has stood the test of time, but the demands of today require it to be faster, smarter, and digital,” Omosehin noted.
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Chairman of the Nigerian National Bureau, Mr. Kunle Ahmed, emphasised Nigeria’s central role in the scheme’s reform. “Nigeria is leading efforts to make the Brown Card more visible and effective. As we mark its 50th anniversary, we must modernise it to meet future demands—anchored on innovation and trust that crosses borders,” he said.
Secretary-General/CEO of the Nigerian National Bureau, Raphael Abiiba, described the meeting as a strategic milestone. “This gathering allows us to reflect on achievements, review gaps, and chart a unified way forward. Regional insurance protection must be both reliable and accessible to all road users,” he remarked.
A key focus of the meeting was the Lagos–Abidjan Corridor Project, a strategic ECOWAS initiative to enhance trade and mobility across Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire. Abiiba referred to the corridor as “the nervous system of West African integration,” adding that full Brown Card integration is essential.
“The ECOWAS Brown Card must serve as both a legal guarantee and a digital passport of protection for motorists across the region,” he asserted.
To drive implementation, the Permanent General Secretariat announced the formation of new technical committees to oversee digital interoperability, claims processing, and standardised training across member states.
The meeting concluded with the presentation of activity reports by various national bureaux, covering claim settlements, arbitration outcomes, and goals for 2025. Participants commended the Nigerian Bureau for its leadership and hospitality during the sessions.
