INTRODUCTION OF INSURANCE TO NIGERIA
The concept of insurance in its modern form was introduced into Nigeria by the British in the closing years of the 19th century with the establishment of trading posts in what is now known as Nigeria towards the end of the 19th century by European trading companies, mostly British. These companies started effecting their insurance with established insurers in the London insurance market. As time went on, some British insurers appointed Nigerian agents to represent their interest in the country. These agents later metamorphosed into full branch offices of their parent companies in Britain.
The first branch office in Nigeria was the Royal Exchange Assurance in 1921, later followed by other British companies. Indigenous Nigerian insurers and re-insurers later followed such as NICON established in 1969 and Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation established in 1977. There are well over 200 direct insurance companies and over five professional reinsurance companies operating in Nigeria today.Most of the country’s major or large marine risks are placed in the London market and at
Lloyd’s. The influence of these foreign markets and their marine insurance practices are quite substantial in Nigeria such that the Institute of London Underwriters’ (ILU) clauses are extensively used in both hull and cargo insurance business in Nigeria. The Institute clauses are drafted by the ILU and are generally revised from time to time in response to the needs of the insurance world. The clauses contain the terms of the insurance contract, the risks covered or excluded, the duration of the policy, the duties of the parties, the measure of indemnity, assignment of the policy, the choice of law clause and other relevant information. The common clauses in use are Institute Cargo Clause A,B and C (ICC A,B,C), Institute Time Clauses (Hulls) (ITC