NNB ECOWAS Brown Card CEO urges stronger passenger protection, insurance compliance
Nike Popoola
The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian National Bureau (NNB), ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme, Raphael Abiiba, has called for stronger collaboration among transport operators, regulators and the insurance industry to promote passenger protection, road safety and responsible fleet management across Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
He made the call at the 2026 Annual Safety Managers, Fleet Officers and Transport/Logistics Officers’ Retreat, organised by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Abuja, under the theme “Building a Safer, Smarter and Sustainable Public Transport Ecosystem in Partnership with the Private Sector.”
Delivering a technical presentation titled “Passenger Protection and Fleet Operators’ Legal Responsibilities: Road Safety, Compulsory Insurance and the ECOWAS Brown Card Scheme,” Abiiba emphasised that road safety must extend beyond accident prevention to include effective insurance protection, operational accountability and timely compensation for accident victims.
He highlighted the provisions of the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025, particularly its emphasis on compulsory insurance and the protection of fare-paying passengers against death or bodily injury. He stressed the responsibility of transport operators to maintain adequate insurance coverage that ensures meaningful financial protection and access to compensation for passengers and other road accident victims.
According to him, fleet operators must go beyond merely possessing valid insurance certificates to understanding the scope of coverage, passenger liability obligations and claims settlement procedures.
“Compulsory motor insurance must translate into real protection for passengers and other road users, rather than being treated merely as a documentary compliance requirement,” he stated.
Speaking on the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme, Abiiba highlighted its importance in facilitating regional integration and providing motor third-party liability protection across participating ECOWAS Member States.
He reiterated that the ECOWAS Brown Card is automatically issued alongside motor insurance policies in Nigeria at no additional cost to motorists, in line with the applicable regulatory and statutory framework.
He further encouraged fleet operators, particularly those involved in interstate and cross-border transportation, to prioritise vehicle roadworthiness, driver competence, passenger safety, insurance verification and effective incident management.
Abiiba commended the leadership of the Federal Road Safety Corps for sustaining the retreat as an important platform for advancing professionalism, regulatory compliance and public-private sector collaboration in the transportation industry.
He reaffirmed the Nigerian National Bureau’s commitment to stakeholder engagement, public enlightenment and collaboration with relevant institutions towards strengthening insurance awareness and protecting road accident victims.
“Every journey carries a responsibility. Every passenger deserves protection, and every fleet operator has a role in making our roads safer,” he concluded.
