Adeyemi Okediran
Despite progressive policies and legal frameworks aimed at safeguarding the rights of people with disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria, major barrier challenges remain unresolved. The barriers exist at different levels This ranges from poor healthcare, lower education achievements, and higher poverty rates.
Sharing her displeasure about the challenging situation that persons with disabilities experience on a daily basis, Oluwakemi Odusanya, a visually impaired person and the founder of Eagles Voice International for Disability Rights, explained how the non-implementation of legal frameworks on disability has contributed to the multifaceted challenges PWDs encounter in the society.
Odusanya said “imagine a person with disabilities, having to jump out of a moving commercial bus on motion, just because the bus driver does not care about your condition and will rather speed past your bus stop”. The traffic lights are not censored, they do not take into consideration the needs of persons with diverse impairments and it is worse when it is someone with multiple impairments.
“Another challenge is how to cross the road to get to the other side of the road. The popular vehicle popularly known as the BRT is not accessible for a blind or visually impaired person. At boarding and disembarking from the buses moment” Odusanya added.
She also continued “Till date none of BRT bus has an audio tracker that announces the bus stop to the hearing of the visually impaired person. This had compounded navigation and movement harder.” Prior to now, there used to be an audio device but now none has the device functional which makes commuting challenging.”
The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2018 and the National Policy on Persons with Disabilities (2011) were milestones in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities. These policies mandate accessibility in public buildings, transportation, and infrastructure and prohibit discrimination in employment and education.
However, implementation has been slow and uneven. Particularly in rural areas, where insufficient funding and resource allocation undermine the government’s commitment.
Oluwakemi Odusanya( Photo credit: Online)
According to Odusanya, the accessibility of infrastructure or public buildings in Lagos State is still 2%. “You need to know or see where I stay. The grave danger of the living condition of a person with a disability is huge. Many of our bridges, traffic lights, road network, the honking of public buses, open pavements, dirt on the road sides, or the noisy bus stops will send a wave of danger to an individual.
Ogheneruemu Alexander, a hearing- person who shares his experience as a PWD in Nigeria said “it’s been a mixed experience. It used to be worse, but gradually, with increasing enlightenment, awareness, advocacy, and the power of association, things are slowly improving.”
Ogheneruemu Alexander (Photo credit: Online)
Alexander noted the constant threat posed by information and communication gaps, exacerbated by a society that does not fully grasp disability rights and justice is beyond comprehension.
Despite being unfamiliar with the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, and the National Policy on Persons with Disabilities (2011), Alexander emphasized the gap between policy and practice. “Plenty of talk, dismal walk,” he said. He highlighted the improvement in public structure accessibility but stressed that much more needs to be done.
Alexander recounted the accessibility challenges he faces daily. Particularly the lack of sign language interpreters at social and public functions. During his time at a federal tertiary institution, he endured classes without an interpreter, which he described as traumatic. He also faced discrimination in employment and education due to his disability, noting that compliance with anti-discrimination policies is dismally low.
To improve accessibility for people with disabilities, Alexander suggests better ramps with ready human assistance and compulsory disability studies in educational institutions from the primary level.
He also recommends the establishment of disability committees in workplaces. Reflecting on the government’s conditional cash support for PWDs in 2021, he acknowledged its success to some extent but called for more consistent and effective initiatives.
To Alexander, one glaring issue is the insufficient funding for disability inclusion initiatives. Many programs suffer from chronic underfunding, limiting their reach and effectiveness. Inclusive education initiatives in Lagos State have successfully increased enrolment and improved learning outcomes for children with disabilities. But it is sad to note the experience of the non-urban population (rural areas), in contrast to what obtains in cities. In most cases, they are non-existent.
“The national disability law has minimal impact on my daily living. As I earlier stated, I am yet to see the federal government’s actions in a social right-based model. I hear a lot of interventions about giving food packages, and applauding other parastatals who may have done one or two things about inclusion.
“I am yet to read about a federal government specific project that addresses the needs of persons with disabilities and the persons without disabilities together. There should not be an exclusion strategy rather, it should be that of an inclusive one. Or better put, yes, the federal government has enacted the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, which is a good approach, but I know that better and more should be done to ensure that inclusion is practised at all levels,” Odusanya lamented.
Odusanya also urged the policymakers to look out for the well-being and livelihood of persons with disabilities.
In her words, “Having a disability is not a death sentence. The challenge or disaster begins at the intersection of making proper and accessible adjustments which can aid people with disabilities’ wellbeing
A clarion call
On behalf of the disability community, especially the affected and the concerned, now is the time to make a change, implement inclusive policies that address the needs and gaps of the marginalized, vulnerable.
*Adeyemi Okediran, a journalist and Africa Foundation for Young Media Professionals’ fellow (Disability and Inclusion reporting fellowship) sent this in as part of the demand of the fellowship
