By Rosemary Iwunze

Shareholders of AIICO Insurance Plc has given the company approval to pay dividend of 12 kobo per share, amounting to N4.4 billion.

At the company’s annual general meeting in Lagos, the company also appointed  three professionals to the Board as Non-Executive Directors: which are Tunde Mabawonku, as a Non-Executive Director, bringing over two decades of experience across banking, finance, strategy, and corporate services, with a strong background in digital and retail financial services; Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, also appointed as a Non-Executive Director, contributes deep expertise in capital markets, energy finance, and risk governance, with extensive experience operating across multi-jurisdictional environments, as well as Sadiq Mohammed joins as an Independent Non-Executive Director, with over three decades of leadership across asset management, pensions, infrastructure, and investment advisory, as well as significant boardroom experience.

In addition, Mr. Olalekan Akinyanmi was announced as the new Chairman of the Board, succeeding Mr. Kundan Sainani.

Commenting, the MD/CEO, Mr. Babatunde Fajemirokun, stated: “We are grateful to our shareholders and investors for their continued confidence and support. Their trust remains a strong validation of our strategic direction and the progress we are making as a business”.

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By Cynthia Alo

The National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, has warned cargo barge operators against the dangerous practice of overloading containers beyond approved limits, saying the trend poses a serious threat to safety on Lagos inland waterways.

Speaking at the 2026 Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria’s (SCAN) Dockworkers’ Day in Lagos, the Lagos Area Manager, NIWA, Engr Sarat Braimah, said the overloaded barges pose a risk of accidents to oncoming tugboats and others.

According to her, safety in the maritime sector is non-negotiable, adding that a single poor decision by maritime personnel doesn’t just damage cargo but directly endangers human lives and the environment.

She stated: “To maximize profit per trip, operators frequently overload barges with shipping containers. When these heavy containers are stacked too high or poorly arranged, they create a massive blind spot that completely blocks the tugboat captain’s forward visibility.

“Operating a vessel without a clear line of sight is incredibly dangerous. It makes it nearly impossible for a captain to spot oncoming traffic, sandbanks, or smaller passenger boats in time to avoid a collision,” she stated.

Braimah, who was represented by the Assistant Manager, Marine Operations, Engr Kelvin Abba, said NIWA has stepped up monitoring and enforcement at loading docks to ensure that container stacks adhere to legal height limits and maintain clear, unobstructed visibility from the wheelhouse.

“NIWA has been actively addressing critical safety gaps across Nigeria’s inland waterways. The most urgent concerns focus on improper barge loading, misapplied safety gear, and the severe hazards of marine litter among many others,” she stated.

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By Progress Godfrey

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) have pledged to work together to protect consumers, raise service standards, and boost sustainable tourism in Nigeria.

This commitment was reinforced when NTDA Director General, Dr Ola Awakan, paid a courtesy visit to FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tunji Bello, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, according to a statement by the consumer protection agency on Wednesday.

Welcoming the delegation, Bello emphasised that tourism is vital for Nigeria’s economic diversification and called for a strong tourism culture to unlock the sector’s full potential.

He noted that while tourism falls under both federal and state responsibilities, the NTDA must provide strategic direction and set standards to build confidence for domestic and international visitors.

“The experience tourists receive upon arrival and throughout their stay determines whether they will return and whether they will recommend Nigeria to others. Every stakeholder must therefore play a role in creating a welcoming and efficient tourism ecosystem,” he said.

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