Benin: The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has called for the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Edo in the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021. The acting Director of CCD, Mr. Godwin Unumeri, made this appeal during a two-day workshop held in Benin.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the workshop, organized by the CCD with support from the Ford Foundation, aimed to enhance the capacity of PWDs to advocate for their inclusion in the benefits provided by the PIA. The event, themed ‘Ending barriers against Niger Deltans with Disabilities,’ sought to promote equity, justice, and inclusive development across the Niger Delta region.
Unumeri emphasized that the presence of participants at the workshop illustrated a shared commitment to advancing inclusion and ensuring PWDs benefit from development opportunities in host communities. He highlighted the strategic importance of the Niger Delta region in Nigeria’s development, noting its significant contributions to economic growth through its vast natural resources. However, he pointed out that these contributions have not translated into equitable development outcomes, and he considered the PIA a crucial step toward addressing these challenges.
Unumeri stated, “The PIA provides a framework for inclusion and participation, but evidence shows that not all groups within host communities are benefitting equally.” He encouraged participants to view the workshop as a platform for empowerment, learning, and strengthening their capacity for effective engagement.
In her presentation, Ms. Ann Ojugo, Chairperson of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) in Edo, called for stronger advocacy for the rights of PWDs. Ojugo asserted that PWDs from host communities deserved greater benefits and should peacefully advocate for their rights, using the knowledge gained from the workshop.