
In Nigeria, it takes one random moment to scatter your year. One wrong step, one loud bang, one medical diagnosis, and your life spirals into chaos.
We call it “life happening.” And when it hits, it doesn’t just drain your account; it tests your stability, plans, and sanity.
Here’s how it comes at you fast, and how to bounce back without spending a kobo.
1. The danfo heist trick that costs you your phone and your dignity
You’re squeezing into the front seat of a danfo after a long day at work. The conductor shouts: “Oga, police dey front! Abeg use seatbelt!”
You don’t notice the person beside you as you fumble with the broken strap. Their fingers are light and professional. By the time the driver announces, “We no dey go again,” and forces everyone out, it hits you: your phone has been lifted.
Now, you’re trying to find your way home, clutching an emergency ₦18,000-button phone that can barely send texts for the next 10 months.
How to protect yourself: Accidents and stolen gadgets hurt. Having insurance coverage for your phone or emergency medicals means this doesn’t have to be the end of your year.
2. You enter a “One Chance” ride and lose everything

It’s late, you’re tired from work, and the drivers on ride-hailing apps keep cancelling. When a clean private car pulls up and offers a ride your way, exhaustion decides for you.
Within minutes, the atmosphere shifts. The doors lock. They beat you, collect your valuables, and dump you on the roadside. You wake up in the hospital with bruises and bills you didn’t budget for.
How to protect yourself: One chance is traumatic enough, and accident insurance won’t erase the trauma, but it can help you start again without going into debt.
3. Your car breaks down in Lagos traffic. Then Lagos finishes the Job
You’re on the Third Mainland Bridge when your car engine breaks down. After calling five mechanics (none of whom were available), you find a spot to park overnight.
When you return in the morning, your side mirrors, wipers, wheel caps, and battery have vanished. What started as one problem has evolved into five emergencies with different invoices.
Now you’re paying for repairs you didn’t plan for, on top of mechanic and towing fees.
How to protect yourself: A little car damage insurance can help you manage the cost of repairs from vandalism or minor accidents, and if you can get that coverage for free, even better.
4. The keke accident that leaves you limping and stressed
You’re crossing the road on a typical morning. You have the right of way, but the keke driver is moving fast and furious and doesn’t brake in time.
The impact isn’t dramatic, just a sickening thud, a moment of shock, and pain shooting up your leg.
At the hospital, the doctor says nothing is broken, but you’ll need a leg brace, pain medication, and follow-up visits. The bill? ₦30,000 you don’t have right now.
How to protect yourself: Accident insurance can cover emergency care and hospital bills, so your bank account doesn’t bleed while you heal.
5. When your office HMO sends “thoughts and prayers”
For months, you’ve ignored the headaches and fatigue. But when you finally drag yourself to the hospital, the diagnosis requires immediate attention, and a ₦250,000 treatment plan.
No problem, you think. We have company insurance.
You confidently approach HR, only to hear: “Sorry, that particular condition isn’t covered in our basic plan.”
How to protect yourself: Don’t just rely on your company’s HMO policy. Get a backup insurance plan so surprises like this don’t mess with your health or finances.
6. Your phone’s beachside funeral

It was supposed to be your day off. No alarms, no deadlines, just you, someone special, and the soothing sound of waves at Tarkwa Bay Beach.
The sun is setting. You’re taking that perfect silhouette picture when your phone slips from your sand-covered fingers. It happens quickly: the splash into the seawater, your frantic grab, and the momentary relief when it seems fine.
But on the drive home, it slips again. This time, it hits the concrete. The screen shatters, and the water damage finishes the job. Suddenly, your digital life is frozen behind a dead black screen.
Then you’re hit with an unexpected ₦150,000+ expense.
How to protect yourself: With gadget protection, you can either repair or replace it without spending rent money or asking your vendor friend for a payment plan.
So, What’s the Fix?
What if we told you there’s a way to get protected, completely free of charge?
The Alternative Bank (AltBank), a CBN-licensed digital bank built on non-interest, ethical banking, is offering new users free Takaful insurance.
All you have to do is open an AltBank account and complete simple tasks on the app, like paying bills, referring friends, or making transactions, and you unlock real insurance benefits:
- ₦75,000 for car damage due to fire, accidents, or attempted theft.
- ₦30,000 for cracked screens, water spills, or malicious gadget damage.
- ₦150,000 in the event of permanent disability or death.
- ₦20,000 to cover sudden medical bills.

How It Works
You earn points every time you complete a simple activity, like signing up, using USSD, getting a debit card, paying bills, or referring friends.
Every 10 points equals one month of free coverage. You can enjoy this protection bundle for up to 12 months by completing 12 easy tasks on the AltBank app.
Earn points simply by doing banking activities you’d do anyway:
- Open an account and complete onboarding on the AltBank app.
- Enrol for USSD banking.
- Get your AltBank debit card.
- Maintain a monthly turnover of ₦50,000 or more.
- Make at least 10 transactions monthly.
- Pay bills or top up airtime/data 5 times (₦5,000+ each)
- Refer three friends to AltBank.
- Each friend opens an account and funds it (₦5,000+)
- Each referred friend completes 2+ transactions.
- Each referred friend pays bills/ top-ups 5 times (₦5,000+ each)
- Take any AltBank loan or credit product.
One unexpected disaster shouldn’t be the reason you enter survival mode or put your plans on hold for months.
Download the AltBank app today and get free protection. Because in Nigeria, life happens fast, but recovery doesn’t have to be slow.