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“Retirement in Nigeria” Why I’m Advocating For Senior Citizens -Felix Amadi
The Chairman of Crown Insurance Brokers, Chief Felix Ohiri Amadi has enjoyed a successful career spanning over three decades in the insurance sector of the economy, having worked closely in chatting lasting solutions towards pension management, he knew exactly what the senior citizens go through after their active service years in accessing their pension benefits, the challenges of retirement age and reasons why people fail to plan for their old age. In his new book, Retirement in Nigeria, Amadi sought to highlight the need to build a robust retirement sector, where professionals would be trained on the intricacies of managing and caring for the aged. He recently engaged the media on why he embarked on the project, “Retirement in Nigeria”, his insurance career, amongst other sundry issues. Enjoy the excerpt
How has it been with Crown Insurance Company during this time of the pandemic?
Crown Insurance Brokers Limited is a company that has been in existence for over three decades. We have had very good times and difficult times such as this season and it has caused us to scale down our operations at the moment in other to cope effectively during this challenging period.
How well has Crown Insurance been able to fair in the insurance sector of Nigeria since its birth?
There is no Federal Government Institution that Crown Insurance hasn’t managed either full or in parts from MPC, MPA, Police, Custom, DSS and much more. We have been part of their management over time and we have also managed some private institutions like Shipping companies, Oil and Gas companies, too numerous to mention. So, Crown Insurance Brokers Limited can be taken as one of the elite insurance companies in Nigeria. Our records are intact and the reference about us can be obtained from the Nigeria Corporation of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB).
With all the successes you’ve enumerated, it shows you’ve done well in the sector; what defines a good insurance company?
Insurance is a major aspect of risk management, whether it affects an individual or organization. Every insurance organization that cannot define the risk of an individual or the organization in a long term may not succeed because risk, if not properly managed to a long term can lead to a major hazard for either the individual or organization involved. Anybody that is managing another person’s risk and fails to define it well cannot have a lasting relationship and if an organization can’t keep a relationship then it will fail when its backups disengage. For the insurance companies that have succeeded, it means they’ve been able to define their client’s risks in a long term and have followed the procedures religiously.
What are the challenges of running an insurance company in Nigeria?
The challenges here aren’t different from the challenges of most other organizations. Economy is looking south and it’s been like this for some time that makes every organization that wants to remain in place to indulge in difficult management. Insurance as an area of endeavor is not considered most of the time as important as health and stomach care, so issues of risk management is put after the Medicare which is basic because people cannot combine them, even when they are aware they need it, the basics comes first. Historically, insurance in Nigeria hasn’t enjoyed deep penetration even with our efforts to create awareness and cause people to accept it.
What is the high point of your career as an insurance broker?
Well, over the years I have managed many public and private accounts and I have managed them veritably, it is difficult for me to single out one as the high point. When I was called by the Federal Ministry of Defense to review Military Pension as it was in serious crises; a lot of destitute were hanging round Ikoyi, claiming they were ex-soldiers who were waiting for their benefits so T. Y. Damjuma and Mrs. Delaja felt there was need to look critically into the reason the soldiers who claimed to be retirees were not being paid. That was where I was called to improve the management of retired soldiers in Nigeria. In 2015, Crown instituted what may have become the biggest Group Life Insurance Scheme other than the Omnibus scheme that is managed by the Head of Service in the Department of Security Services (DSS). That scheme has the signature Crown Insurance and it is one of the finest insurance schemes running now in the country. There are much more achievements to count regarding my high points in service.
If you weren’t an insurance broker what other business or career would you have ventured into?
I would have loved to retire as a professor; I would have functioned well as an intellectual. When I graduated from the University of Lagos, Akoka at the age of 23 the University enlisted me for post graduate studies in Colombian University, somehow I preferred going to work in other to support my younger ones, that was how I diverted my career in the world of academics. Before I decided to quite my dreams, I had calculated that at the age of 27 I would’ve gained my PH.D and if I kept working hard as I did at that time, I foresaw myself as a Professor at the age of 35/36 but all that didn’t happen because I diverted from it.
Some time ago you had a stint in politics, what was your intention when you delve into it then and currently are you still nursing political ambitions?
My sojourn in politics is still work in progress. When you see some people in the corridor of power in Nigeria, you’ll feel that they don’t have the indebt of love that is required from the leaders in a nation. Unlike some serious minded professionals that have attempted politics who go there to assist because they’ve seen some loopholes they think they can fill-in in order to move the country to a better place that was the motive that made me become a politician. I joined a political party, I was an active member of the party and secured a ticket to run for the senatorial seat of Imo East where I come from; I didn’t win but everybody says I made a very huge impact. You know that once you attempt a political position in Nigeria you are likely to sacrifice a lot of your personal savings so it’s not that I have quit politics but I am waiting to see my like minds come together to form a critical movement so that the country can be safe. If you are a reasonable human being in Nigerian politics and you have to go against fifty rascals out there, you cannot maneuver them; they’ll deal with you and make you seem useless. Our prayer is that more mature minds, more professionals and more of the ones that has the good of the country at heart should come up and work together to make this country a better place.
As 2023 approaches, do you have any intention of coming out for an elective position and are you one of the people clamoring for Igbo presidency?
I have no such plans now and it is too early for one to come out and start telling what will happen in three years’ time. Instead of clamoring for either Igbo, Hausa or Yoruba president pray that only a person suitable for the position will come and let’s advice those in government starting from the local government that politics isn’t about getting rich in government and gaining firm and power. Let them understand that politics is about governing the people with good will. All the people that think about how to win the next elections at all costs are the traditional politicians who have nothing to offer and I am not one of them.
Talking about groups like minds and professionals, few months ago, Pat Utomi, Olisa Agbakoba and others came together to form a coalition for 2023, what’s your take about such moves and would you embrace their idea?
Of course their ideas are good, more people should join them. They aren’t forming a political party; they are uniting to realize what’s in the best interest of the people, people like them are good people. Anybody who has intention in just willing and dealing is making a mistake because at the end of the day there might not be a country for them to continue to deal if they don’t protect the one at stake now.
Generally speaking Sir, what’s your assessment of the Nigerian political space?
A lot of improvement is needed. There are good people but I would say that they are in the minority, the job is to bring more people that are ready to save Nigeria and impact the people in a way that will benefit the country’s future; people have to forget about the old ways of becoming a billionaire without lifting a finger. Let them bring in people that will make impact in a way that the future generation will look back and say “but for this people”, that’s the way forward.
You’ve done well with your new book, Retirement in Nigeria; can you talk about it?
Retirement is one of those areas that are still lagging behind particularly from the point of view of those that are retired and aged. You don’t need to stretch your neck to have a view of those who are suffering because they have not received their retirement funds from either the state or local government. So there is need for our government to champion the cause of these suffering senior citizens, they say little or nothing about it and it’s bad. I embarked on retirement management research for the reason of the suffering retirees; the same thing I realized when I was called to manage the military retirement. If you go through the whole of Nigeria you’ll see that there is no solid literature that can be used as reference or capacity building in terms of retirement so I decided to write about it.
No one talks about retirement till death and for one to be able to manage retirement in order for old people not to suffer it has to be well planned; between retirement planning and retirement management the time has come for further research for people both in the higher institutions and professional institutions to be trained for proper clarification so that when they are confronted by retirees or workers either as consultant or employees of Retirement Management organization, they would be adequately prepared.
Federal Government has done well through the Obasanjo regime that saw the decay in pension management and they put together in a reform act in 2004, now successive governments have been managing pensions based on the reform principles yet no refunds are needed, the states and local governments have to look into the affairs of pensioners in their areas. What affects a part of the country affects everywhere so they have to begin to take issues that concerns pensions seriously.
I do not want to review my book, let others do it for me but it covers a lot. The Retirement Management Industry has come, research is seriously needed in this area; we have Pediatricians everywhere who take care of babies but a lot of old people need care, they need a special hospital not General Hospital.
Look carefully, you’ll discover that the traditional system of children taking care of their parents has collapsed. The reason is the world is now a global village and your child can decide to go and live in another country; while you as the parent is here in Nigeria. All the child can do is send money to you and money can’t take care of an old parent but if there is a professional who has passion and ethics governed by the profession will take care of you and get paid.
An aged person doesn’t need money but care, but such things are lacking in this country and it’s in this book I’ve written. If you look around the entire world, countries that have the size and economic capacity of Nigeria all have elderly people whether they have worked or not, they collect a certain amount of money for their care but we don’t have that here and advocacy is needed. We don’t have so many elderly people in Nigeria who live beyond 70 and 80 years because of suffering, let this people live and be happy; let them not die cursing the government and the system. This book will help those that are making laws on social securities to begin to re-examine current positions to make amends where necessary so that those who will be managing pensions will manage better and those who will receive pensions will be happy and be thankful to the government.
What challenges did you face in putting up this massive volume of write-up “Retirement in Nigeria”?
Writing a book first of all needs a clear motivation. It is the motivation that guides and being that I’ve encountered a lot of retired people both as a consultant and individually, I know a lot of what they go through. Once you have motivation and you decide to do a thing out of your busy schedule you’ll create your time for passion because it is what you want to do properly not because of money but for impact and education; though it cost me time and money but for the sake that I wanted to do it and here it is ready to be presented to the world.
How soon should we expect the book on the shelves?
We delayed the public presentation because of the Covid-19 challenges but now we know that social distancing is the new order for safety so we’ll soon with safety measures adequately put in place present it to the general public.
…….GDP rose 4.43 per cent in Q2
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday assured Nigerians that his administration would intensify efforts to translate improving economic indicators into better living conditions. NigerianBusiness Directory
He declared that the economy is now on an “irreversible path” towards growth that households will feel at their dining tables and in their pockets.
The President said the Federal Government would, within the next few weeks, introduce measures targeted at vulnerable Nigerians, including cheaper means of transportation, increased food production and relief programmes designed to directly reach people at the grassroots.
Tinubu gave the assurances in his reaction to the latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures released yesterday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The report shows that the Nigerian economy grew by 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 4.23 per cent recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2025. NigerianBusiness Directory
The President welcomed the figures as further evidence that the economic reforms undertaken by his administration since May 2023 were yielding results, according to a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.
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“Under our watch, the economy is on the irreversible path to experience even more growth that all homes will feel at the dining table and in their pockets. We are not resting on our oars.
“We are fully committed to translating consistent, stronger economic performance into better microeconomic outcomes for our citizens. We must stay vigilant by ensuring the sustainable progress we are recording remains irreversible,” Tinubu said.
According to the NBS report, growth was recorded across agriculture, manufacturing, oil and gas, and services, with the services sector maintaining its position as the largest contributor to aggregate GDP.
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In nominal terms, Nigeria’s aggregate GDP rose to N119.27 trillion in the second quarter, representing an 18.43 per cent increase from the N100.7 trillion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
Tinubu said his administration had spent the past three years taking difficult decisions necessary to stabilise the economy.
“In the past three years, we tried to do the hard part by implementing the necessary reforms to stabilise the economy.
“Now the economy is stabilised, and we have laid the foundation for a prosperous nation. We didn’t do the reforms to create challenges, but to ensure prosperity reaches all our people,” he said.
The President said the latest growth figures were among a series of indicators showing that his Renewed Hope Agenda was working, pointing to improvements in the country’s external reserves, trade position, credit ratings, infrastructure development and oil and gas production.
“The results of the efforts are becoming very clear to all: The Renewed Hope Agenda is working. Because of those tough decisions, today Nigeria has trade surpluses. Our foreign reserves are at their highest in 17 years. Our credit rating has moved up several notches.
“We are building roads, railways and superhighways that will last for a long time. Investors who left are returning. Oil and gas production is increasing,” Tinubu said.
He also cited developments in the education sector as evidence of progress, saying Nigerian universities had enjoyed stability while the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) was expanding access to tertiary education.
“And in our universities, for the first time in a long time, there are no strikes. Our children are in class. And through NELFUND, student loans are putting education within reach, and affordable credit is going to our civil servants through Creditcorp,” he said.
The President said the next phase of the administration’s intervention would place greater emphasis on alleviating pressures confronting vulnerable Nigerians and ensuring that improving macroeconomic indicators translate into tangible benefits. NigerianBusiness Directory
“In the next few weeks, we are addressing some of the challenges being faced by our vulnerable population by providing cheaper means of transport, ramping up food production and implementing various relief programmes that will touch lives at the grassroots,” he said.
Tinubu also took a swipe at the opposition, saying the latest economic figures had come at a time when opposition elements were attempting to diminish the achievements of his administration and promising to reverse some of its reforms if elected.
He maintained that the policies undertaken since the beginning of his administration were not intended to impose hardship on Nigerians, but to correct structural weaknesses and create the foundation for sustainable prosperity. NigerianBusiness Directory
The President pledged that his administration would remain focused on consolidating the gains recorded so far.
Economy expands further on broad-based growth across sectors
The NBS report, which shows 4.43 per cent growth in the second quarter, indicates that the growth outperformed both the first quarter of 2026 and the corresponding second quarter of 2025.
The report highlighted a broad-based economic expansion driven by significant improvements in the agricultural segment, non-oil sector, services and sustained growth in the oil sector.
The agricultural sector almost doubled its performance, with a growth of 4.39 per cent in the second quarter of 2026 compared with 2.82 per cent in the corresponding period of 2025.
The non-oil sector, which accounted for about 96 per cent of the economy, grew by 67 basis points to 4.31 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 3.64 per cent recorded in the second quarter of 2025. Non-oil sector growth was 3.94 per cent in the first quarter of 2026.
Non-oil sector performance was driven by growth across various segments, including crop production, telecommunications, real estate, trade, financial institutions, cement manufacturing and construction, among others.
The oil sector grew by 7.31 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, higher than the 2.57 per cent recorded in the first quarter of 2026, but lower than the 20.46 per cent recorded in the second quarter of 2025.
The industrial sector also grew by 3.96 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, as against 7.46 per cent recorded in the comparative period of 2025.
Average daily crude oil production rose to 1.72 million barrels per day (mbpd) in the second quarter of 2026, outperforming both the preceding quarter and the comparable period of 2025.
Crude production in the second quarter of 2026 was the highest since 2022. Oil production stood at 1.68 mbpd in the second quarter of 2025 and 1.55 mbpd in the first quarter of 2026.
The oil sector thus contributed 4.16 per cent to total real GDP in the second quarter of 2026, a sustained improvement on the 4.05 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of 2025 and 3.92 per cent recorded in the first quarter of 2026.
In nominal terms, total GDP rose by 18.43 per cent from N100.73 trillion in the second quarter of 2025 to N119.29 trillion in the second quarter of 2026.
In terms of GDP share, the services sector remained the dominant driver, contributing 56.62 per cent to aggregate GDP in the second quarter of 2026, as against 56.53 per cent recorded in the comparable period of 2025.
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The non-oil sector contributed 95.84 per cent to aggregate real GDP in the second quarter of 2026, as against 95.95 per cent in the second quarter of 2025 and 96.08 per cent in the first quarter of 2026.
Experts were unanimous that the latest GDP report showed a positive outlook for the economy.
Analysts at SCM Capital stated that the second-quarter 2026 GDP report underlined improved macroeconomic conditions and broad-based policy support, which have continued to anchor economic performance.
They said the report showed broad-based resilience, with an uptick in oil output reflecting gradual operational improvements and sustained field activity across major production basins, alongside a non-oil sector gaining stronger momentum.
Analysts at Coronation Group and Cordros Capital Group stated that the GDP performance outpaced their expectations, noting that the economy had shown resilience and steady growth.
sustained economic resilience, with growth anchored by the services sector alongside gradual improvement across non-oil activities.
“The outturn affirms our broader expectation of a steady, non-oil-led growth trajectory through the rest of the year,” Coronation Group stated.
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Update : NRC Releases Preliminary Report on Warri-Itakpe Train Crash, Says Wheel Defect May Have Triggered Derailment
……NRC Suspects Wheel Defect, Rules Out Track Vandalism
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has released its preliminary report on the June 8, 2026 derailment involving the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS), revealing that a possible sudden bogie or wheel defect may have triggered the accident.
The incident occurred at about 4:17pm near the Outer Home signal of the Goodluck Jonathan Railway Station at kilometre 177, Owa-Oyibu, Agbor, Delta State.
According to the NRC, the train had departed Itakpe at 12 noon with 482 people on board, comprising 442 passengers and 40 operational personnel, when the derailment occurred.
Five coaches, one locomotive and a power car were affected, with three coaches and the power car overturning.
The Corporation said emergency response operations were immediately activated with support from the Delta State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), local authorities and medical teams.
All passengers were evacuated within two hours of the incident.
However, the accident resulted in four confirmed deaths — three adults and one child — while 64 people sustained various injuries.
The NRC said 28 injured passengers were treated and discharged at the Railway Hospital, Owa-Oyibu, while another 36 were transferred to hospitals in Owa-Oyibu, Owa-Alero and Agbor.
Most of those admitted were discharged within 72 hours, while three people, including an NRC employee who required surgery, remained under specialist medical care. Two of the affected persons subsequently underwent surgical procedures.
The Corporation also clarified that its initial report of five fatalities was later revised to four following verification with the Delta State medical team responsible for the deceased.
Possible wheel defect identified
The NRC said its internal investigation involved site inspections, evidence gathering, examination of operational records and communication data, technical assessments of the locomotive and rolling stock, as well as interviews with train crew, operations and maintenance personnel, witnesses and emergency responders.
The investigation also examined the track infrastructure, turnout arrangements, communication systems and the effectiveness of the emergency response and evacuation operations.
Based on the preliminary findings, the NRC said investigators identified the possible sudden development of a bogie/wheel defect while the train was in motion as a potential primary factor in the derailment.
According to the Corporation, such a defect could have resulted in abnormal wheel-rail interaction, excessive impact loading and loss of running stability.
The investigators also identified the possible manner in which the train’s brakes were applied as a factor that may have contributed to the severity of the accident.
However, the NRC stressed that both issues remain working hypotheses and that the definitive cause of the derailment would only be established after further technical analysis.
No evidence of track vandalism
The Corporation said its inquiry team found that the railway points at the accident location were intact and that there was no evidence of track vandalism.
This finding distinguishes the June 8 incident from two previous accidents involving the same Warri–Itakpe service on November 1 and November 8, 2025, which the NRC said were attributed to track vandalism.
The independent Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has also commenced its statutory investigation into the accident.
The NRC said it was cooperating fully with the NSIB and would be guided by the findings and recommendations contained in its final report.
NRC announces safety measures
Following the preliminary findings, the Corporation recommended comprehensive safety inspections and audits of rolling stock, railway tracks and infrastructure before equipment is returned to service.
It also called for stronger maintenance and condition-monitoring programmes, timely replacement of defective components and improved availability of critical spare parts.
The NRC further recommended a review of operational safety procedures, improved emergency preparedness and rescue capabilities, enhanced staff training and competency assessments, as well as sustainable funding for railway modernisation.
The Corporation also proposed improvements to its insurance and compensation framework to ensure adequate protection for passengers and staff in cases involving medical treatment, disability and fatalities.
WITS service yet to resume
The NRC said the affected track has been fully recovered and restored, while the locomotives involved have also been recovered and are currently undergoing reconditioning.
However, the Corporation said the Warri–Itakpe service would not resume until a detailed safety audit of the track and equipment has been completed.
The NRC expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident and apologised for the delay in releasing the preliminary report, explaining that additional time was required to properly verify the casualties and notify the affected families.
The Corporation said it remained committed to implementing recommendations arising from both its internal accident inquiry and the independent NSIB investigation, with the aim of strengthening railway safety and restoring public confidence in train transportation.
I’m
Veteran Yoruba actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, has died at 66.
His daughter, Kira Taiwo, confirmed his passing during an Instagram Live session on Sunday.
The news comes days after Kira and her sister, Lima Taiwo, made public appeals on Monday, August 17, 2026, for medical advice for their father, who was battling stage-four cancer.
Kira said doctors had stopped chemotherapy because of his condition, and the family was seeking alternative treatments, including specialised procedures and traditional remedies.
She clarified that the family was not asking for financial donations, but for information on possible treatment options.
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