Veteran gospel musician and broadcaster Dr. Yinka Ayefele is calling for major changes in Nigeria’s insurance sector. He says lengthy delays in paying claims are a significant problem.
Ayefele spoke about his own challenges. He owns Fresh FM, a radio station. He insists he always insures his properties. This includes his musical instruments.
“People asked if I didn’t insure my properties,” he said. “I replied, how can I have such property and not insure it? Even my musical instruments are insured.”
But having insurance does not mean quick payment. He described an accident involving one of his buses on Sagamu Road.
The insurance was valid. However, getting compensation was difficult. His team wrote many letters and provided police reports. The insurance company even visited the accident scene.
Payment only came after a lawyer got involved. “We received a stipend only after our lawyer’s intervention,” Ayefele recounted.
He also told the story of a watch seller. The seller’s claim was denied after a burglary. The insurance company refused to pay. They said the shop owner did not install anti-burglary protection on the ceiling.
Ayefele’s radio station, Fresh FM, recently suffered a fire. He is worried about depending on insurance to rebuild. He fears the process will take too long and stop the station from operating.
“If we wait on insurance before expanding Fresh FM, it means we won’t operate this year,” he said. He explained that companies begin long investigations. They ask for eyewitness accounts and reports.
Ayefele clarified that he is not against insurance. His concern is solely about the speed of payment.
“I am not saying insurance is bad. They pay claims. It’s just that it doesn’t come in time,” he said.
He ended with an urgent plea. He urged Nigerian insurance companies to make their claims processes faster and more efficient. He said timely payments would build trust. This would encourage more people and businesses to buy insurance.
Key changes made to meet professional standards
Inverted Pyramid Structure: The article starts with the most critical news (his call for reform) and then provides supporting details and quotes.
Simplified Language: Complex sentences were broken down into shorter, clearer ones for easier understanding (e.g., “He fears the process will take too long and stop the station from operating”).
Strong Lead: The first paragraph immediately establishes the who (Ayefele), what (criticizing insurance delays), why (to urge reform).
Logical Flow: The article moves from his general statement to specific examples (the bus, the watch seller, the fire) and ends with his concluding plea.
Preserved Meaning: All essential facts and quotes from the original text are maintained without any change in meaning.
Objective Tone: The reporting is neutral and factual, presenting Ayefele’s experiences without editorializing.
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