This study was designed with the aim of investigating the effectiveness, efficiency and promptness of claims handling process within the Nigerian insurance industry. To this end, the researchers have been able to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of claims handling process and thus, examine its promptness in relation to the organizational productivity of insurance companies in Nigeria. The study employed a cross-sectional type of survey design. A judgmental sampling technique was employed and relevant data were gathered through the use of structured questionnaire. The sample population consisted of 107 respondents made up of some members of staff within claims department drawn from 33 insurance companies which were selected from the directory of member companies. The major statistical technique employed for this study was a One Sample T-test. Two hypotheses were tested in this study. The hypotheses tested in the study found that managing claims effectively and efficiently will significantly affect operational process in claims management and thus, promptness in claims handling processes does essentially assist in fraud detection and prevention. The study recommends that claims manager should put forward strategic plans to ensuring that insurance claims complaint files are properly kept, monitored and handled for needs that may warrant its usefulness in the future. Claims handling procedures should be promptly managed to avoid deficiency in organization's operational objectives, and lastly, Government should ammonize their resources and technical know how with the Nigerian insurance industry in ensuring that insurance claims are well designed to curtail fraudulent claims experienced in the past.

Abstract. This paper examines the relationship between ceding office gross premium income, underwriting profit and financial stability. The study made use of primary and secondary data. The primary data were obtained from 246 respondents selected from those companies through the use of structured questionnaire. The secondary data obtained from the 2014 and 2015 published financials of the selected ten companies were used to determine the Reinsurance Ceded Ratio (RCR), Return on Asset (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE) as well as the Ratio of Reinsurance Recoverables to Policyholders Surplus (RRPHS). A descriptive research design was employed. The sampling technique adopted was purposive in nature. The study population comprises 56 insurance companies in Nigeria. More so, data collected was analysed using correlation analytical method. The results of this study are quite in line with previous studies and show that reinsurance purchase increases significantly the insurers' premium income. It is also shown that profitability of the firm is sensitive to change in reinsurance utilisation and has a positive relationship with it. It was established in the study that purchasing reinsurance reduces insurers' insolvency risk by stabilizing loss experience and increasing capacity. Recommendations were made.

This study examines insurance claims fraud in homeowner’s insurance with its empirical findings from the Nigerian insurance industry. In this study, a descriptive research design was employed while purposive sampling method was adopted for information selection. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. 221 participants were drawn from 31 insurance companies, which were basically general insurance companies that represent 61% capacity of the industry in terms of market structure. Major statistical techniques employed in the study were simple frequency percentage and T-test statistics. While five relevant research questions were stated and to which verbal interpretation were provided, added with supporting evidence, two hypothetical statements were made. The study recommends that effective fraud deterrent should be in place so as to promote stable, confidence-based, result-oriented and trustworthy market environment, and government on its own part must not fail to exhibit the will-power to drive the anti-fraud strategy designed, built and modeled for the operational efficiency of insurance companies and effective service delivery in the heart of the insuring public. This research work contributes to existing knowledge in that it helps broaden the scope of the regulatory bodies on the need to continually engage academia, insurance practitioners, IT experts and other stakeholders in designing and building a more sustainable anti-fraud strategy in improving insurance market penetration and density.

Information technology is crucial for a communication based process. Therefore, this study presents an investigation of the significant role of information technology in customer service delivery and firm performance in selected insurance companies in Nigeria. Specifically, three hypotheses were tested. They are to determine whether: (i) customers are not aware of the availability of IT facilities in their dealings with the Nigerian insurance companies; (ii) the use of IT does not enhance the performance efficiency of insurance organizations in Nigeria; and (iii) providing quality customer service delivery will not enhance organizational performance of insurance companies. The survey research design for the study was a cross examination. The study sample consisted of 112 participants made up of IT managers, marketing managers, and underwriting managers drawn from 25 insurance companies which were randomly selected from the directory of member companies. One-sample T-test and simple frequency percentage tables were used for data analysis. The study revealed that most customers hardly use online services in their engagement with the Nigerian insurance companies even with the level of awareness created which depicts a low level business relationship. Thus, many of the insurance organizations indicated that they experienced high performance efficiency in their investment in and adoption of information technology. This study recommends that insurance administrators and regulators at all levels should gather relevant information as regards factors that may assist in contributing meaningfully to the usefulness of IT in effective service delivery. They should also undertake optimal investment in IT, provide quality service delivery to customers and regularly evaluate IT usage in every department of insurance organizations in Nigeria in order to take appropriate strategic decisions capable of enhancing firm performance.

Purpose of the article: Insurance awareness in Nigeria needs to be encouraged among entrepreneurs in order to galvanise support for insurance penetration and density. Methodology/methods: A descriptive approach and survey design were employed. A singlestage cluster sampling technique and interview schedule were both employed. 352 respondents made up of small business and medium-sized operators were drawn from three Local Government Council Areas of Lagos. The statistical instruments employed for this study were the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Kendall's rank correlation coefficient techniques. Scientific aim: This study aims at the relationship between insurance awareness and its acceptability among small business and medium-sized operators in the metropolis of Lagos. Findings: The results of this study assume that insurance products have not gained high popularity among small business and medium-sized operators in the Lagos metropolis. They have also shown that there is a low but slightly positive relationship between insurance awareness and its acceptance among small business owners in the Lagos metropolis. Our formulated hypotheses have been supported. Conclusions: This study provides a better understanding on the importance of insurance awareness as related to its acceptance among small and medium-sized entrepreneurs This study recommends that greater attention should be placed on small business owners' education of and engagement in the design of insurance products related to their activities so as to allow for the sense of ownership, effective risk management communication and proper risk financing techniques.