Ilorin: On a bright afternoon in Ilorin, Kwara, Bilkis Abdulkadir set out of her house to represent the community of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) at a meeting organised by a non-governmental organisation. Though she arrived at the venue half an hour late, she could not contribute to deliberations at the meeting; not because of her lateness, but because she is physically challenged and therefore, could not navigate the staircase alone, deepening the exclusion of the already marginalised community.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Abdulkadir shared her experience, stating, “I had to stay downstairs while the meeting was going on upstairs; I only marked attendance after I was briefed about the discussion, which made me feel very bad that day.” Similarly, another PWD, Ramat Jawondo, recounted her ordeal at a public function where she had to leave early due to inaccessible restroom facilities that couldn’t accommodate her wheelchair.
Abdulkadir and Jawondo’s experiences reflect a broader issue faced by many PWDs in Kwara, where accessibility to public facilities remains a significant challenge. The World Health Organisation reports that 1.3 billion people globally have significant disabilities, representing about 16 percent of the world’s population. In Nigeria, approximately 15 percent of the population, around 25 million people, live with disabilities.
Access to public facilities is essential for PWDs as it fosters independence, safety, and community participation. It also facilitates access to essential services like healthcare and education, preventing exclusion from social and economic activities. Despite the signing of the Disability Law by former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in 2017, which aimed to improve accessibility, implementation remains a significant issue in Kwara.
Kwara was among the states that enacted the disability law before the National Assembly’s Discrimination Against Persons With Disability (Prohibition) law in 2018. However, the law’s implementation has been lackluster. For example, the law mandates that public buildings include accessibility aids like lifts and ramps, but many facilities remain non-compliant even after the five-year transitory period, which lapsed in 2023.
Mr. Adebayo Gbadamosi, Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) in Kwara, acknowledged some improvements but emphasized that a long journey remains. He noted that while new projects consider PWD needs, older buildings and offices remain inaccessible, violating existing laws.
The accessibility issues extend beyond public buildings to essential services such as banking and public transport. Mr. Abdulhakeem Lawal, Chairman of the National Association of the Blind, shared an incident where he was swindled while trying to operate an ATM without sound functions, highlighting the additional challenges faced by PWDs.
The Discrimination Against Persons With Disability (Prohibition) Act mandates accessibility in public spaces and services and calls for the establishment of a Disability Commission. However, in Kwara, the Office for Disability Affairs has not been established, leaving only the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Needs.
Gbadamosi and other PWD advocates continue to push for a Disability Commission to address their needs more effectively. Mrs. Joy Bolarin, JONAPWD Women Leader, stressed the importance of having PWD representation in decisions affecting them, while Special Adviser Habeeb Babaoloye echoed the need for government action to remodel old buildings to be PWD compliant.
Mr. Abdurrahman Ayuba, Executive Director of the Centre for Community Empowerment and Poverty Eradication, pointed out that the lack of accessible public facilities prevents PWDs from fully participating in society. He highlighted issues in government buildings and public transport, calling for stronger political will to implement the Disability (Prohibition) Act fully.
Experts and stakeholders agree that fostering true inclusivity requires a committed effort to implement existing laws and address the challenges faced by PWDs in Kwara.