Annie Dick
Accessibility challenge continues to be a big concern for many persons with disabilities. This challenge cuts across Nigeria and is widespread in every sector. The goal of disability Inclusion is to ensure persons with disabilities have equal and equitable access to services available to persons without disabilities.
In advancing the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Rivers State, several related organizations of People with disabilities have continued their advocacies towards ensuring that the community of Persons with Disabilities in the state is no longer subject to disenfranchisement and rights violations.
Aside from the above, several strategic initiatives are being established so the burden of accessibility for PWDS can be reduced in the state. One notable effort recently executed by the Freky Andrew- Essien Care Foundation is a series of activities geared towards advancing the goal of pushing for accessibility of the physical environment in Rivers State. The initiative also helped in advancing the knowledge of Disability Rights among persons with disabilities and the public.
On why such efforts had become so paramount, the Executive Director of the Foundation, Ambassador Ndifreke Andrew –Essien disclosed their mission is to ensure a Rivers state where accessibility conversation, challenges, infrastructures become an integral aspect of societal consciousness.
Amb. Andew-Essien
According to Amb. Andrew-Essien “We want to see the identification, resolution, and elimination of barriers hindering accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities in the state as well as increase in the knowledge of Disability Rights among persons with disabilities and the public “;
Within the state, the issue of full domestication of disability rights act has also become an important issue within the PWDs community, Amb Essien has called for a better and inclusive law which promotes human rights issues and urgent need for the state to establish a Disability Council Commission to handle issues of disabilities affairs.
“Time is now for effective implementation of every detail of disability Acts in the state. Establishment of Persons with Disabilities Welfare Agency can no longer be delayed” Said Amb. Andrew Essien. While we must commend the already existing Rivers state people with disabilities welfare law 2012, it is obvious the implementation is very weak and this seems to be delaying a lot of progress it could have achieved.
A commendable effort, facilities check accessibility audit of Eleme, PHLGA and Obio Akpor Local Government Areas of Rivers State, the technical assistant on the project, Jennifer Agbaji Esq revealed that 43.5% of respondent do not have knowledge of the discrimination against persons with disabilities laws that provides for inclusion of Persons with Disabilities.
This report according to Amb. Andrew-Essien is a clear indication that Rivers state’s effort in the area of accessibility for PWDs must be accelerated. “Without right accessibility protocols, society’s development can be hampered and that is the reason the forward-looking government prioritises this” Amb, Andre-Essien reaffirmed.
Jennifer Agbai also believed “Accessibility challenge is quite an issue in Rivers State and we should begin to think of what to do”. A keen assessment of the results of our facility audits with a strong international standard checklist revealed that access to many public places, facilities is almost zero because only few of the buildings have accessible facilities. Many of the public buildings lack ramps or accessible elevators, making access difficult for PWDs.
Within the transportation and airport facilities there are several barriers against PWDs. Banks and educational institutions especially tertiary institutions are still very inaccessible “. With all these, there is urgent need for modifications, Agbaji noted
Agbaji Esq recommended urgent modification of infrastructure to enhance physical mobility through transparent budgeting and monitoring.
