In Ogun State, Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) have raised a clarion call over the persistent neglect and lack of enforcement of the state’s disability law.
They lament that this disregard has perpetuated their exclusion from essential services such as quality education, healthcare, and accessible transportation.
This concern was voiced on the 5th of December, 2024, during a stakeholders’ forum at the Justice Fati Lami Recreation Centre for the Disabled in Abeokuta, the state capital.
The event, organized by the Centre for Disability and Inclusion Africa (CDIA) in partnership with the Joint Associations of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Ogun State chapter, bore the theme: “Ogun State Disability Law Review, What Counts Now.”
The Ogun State Disability Law, titled “HB No. 12/OG/2017,” was signed in 2017 by former Governor Ibikunle Amosun. It was designed to eradicate all forms of discrimination against PWDs and provide equal opportunities for them in every sphere of life. However, its implementation has fallen short, leading to widespread frustration among the disability community.
Speaking at the forum, which coincided with the 2024 International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Yinka Olaito, the executive director of CDIA, expressed deep concern over the law’s limited scope.
He noted its failure to address specific disabilities such as intellectual disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and albinism, emphasizing the urgent need for their inclusion.
Olaito advocated for empowerment, stating, “PWDs should be given the capacity to contribute their quota to the development of the country.” He underscored staggering global statistics, revealing that 1.3 billion people live with significant disabilities, with over 27 million in Nigeria alone.
The CDIA director highlighted pressing issues facing PWDs, including barriers to fair housing, education, employment, health equity, and affordable transportation. “Enough is enough,” he declared. “We should demand our right, not beg for it. There are significant disparities, particularly for females, where 8.3% face these challenges compared to 6.5% of males. This is unacceptable.”
Similarly, the Ogun State chairman of JONAPWD, Micheal Ebohan, described the dire conditions faced by PWDs in the state. He called on Governor Dapo Abiodun to urgently implement the law, asserting that it would alleviate much of their suffering.
Ebohan stated, “If the government can begin the implementation of this law, it will significantly reduce the pain of our people. From what we gathered from the Ministry of Women Affairs, the delay is due to certain gaps in the law that require review.”
The forum resonated as a powerful plea for action, with participants emphasizing that the rights of PWDs must no longer be sidelined.