… Charges MDAs, private sector to make their buildings/facilities accessible
… Says Spinal Cord Injury not a death sentence, encourages survivors to face life with hope
By Lanre Oloyede
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, has restated the commitment of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fully implement the provisions of the National Disability Act 2018.
Hon. Abba Isa stated this Thursday at an event to commemorate this year’s International Spinal Cord Injury Day in Abuja organized by the office of the SSA to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities in collaboration with the FCT chapter of Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria, SCIAN.
Accordingly, the Senior presidential aide announced that his office, in collaboration with the National Commission for Persons With Disabilities, is preparing to set up a presidential joint task team that will spearhead the implementation process.
He added that with the expiration of the five-year moratorium, it was imperative to decisively ensure that every PWD, especially those with spinal cord injuries, enjoys the full protection of their rights as enshrined in the law.
Recall that September 5 of every year is set aside to create awareness and reflect on the challenges faced by spinal cord injury survivors with a view to preferring solutions to them.
According to the presidential aide, this year’s theme, “End Violence, Protect Spinal Cord”, resonates deeply with the federal government’s commitment as a nation to uphold the rights and dignity of persons living with spinal cord injuries, ensuring their full inclusion and protection in society.
The SSAP noted that the current administration under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made significant strides in advancing the rights of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
“Through coordinated efforts with my office, we have achieved notable milestones in the protection of rights and provision of assistive devices, ensuring that PWDs, particularly those with spinal cord injuries, are empowered to lead dignified and independent lives,” he explained.
The presidential aide however lamented that despite these achievements, persons with spinal cord injuries continue to face overwhelming challenges in Nigeria, stressing that many of them experience violence, discrimination, and a lack of accessible infrastructure, hindering their ability to participate fully in society.
He mentioned that accessibility remains a critical concern, particularly for individuals who rely on wheelchairs, as public spaces often lack the necessary provisions such as lifts, ramps, and other assistive devices that ensure their freedom of movement.
Citing relevant provisions of the disability Act, the SSAP maintained that accessibility remains the fundamental rights of Persons With disabilities particularly those with Spinal Cord injuries, and warned the general public to desist from violating this laws.
“It is imperative to recall that Section 1 of the National Disability Act, 2018 explicitly prohibits discrimination or violence against Persons With Disabilities. Furthermore, Section 3 guarantees the rights of PWDs, particularly those on wheelchairs, to access public buildings. The law mandates that all public facilities must be made accessible, providing essential infrastructure to support mobility. Sadly, we still find ourselves in a situation where these rights are not fully upheld, and the discrimination and violence persist,” Hon Abba Isa averred.
The presidential aide charged all relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as the private sector, to begin immediate compliance with the National Disability Act, stressing that they must prioritize accessibility and eliminate the barriers that prevent PWDs from fully integrating into our society.
The SSAP who is a spinal cord injury survivor himself encouraged other survivors not to despair but face life with hope as the challenge is not a death sentence.
He recalled when he had his accident and the doctor said he wouldn’t survive advising his family to stop wasting their resources but today he did not only survived but now an SSA to the President.
In her welcome address, the chairperson of SCIAN FCT chapter, Mrs Maureen Chioma Egede acknowledged the barriers faced by Persons with Spinal Cord injuries in accessing healthcare , rehabilitation, education, employment and full participation in social activities, while stating that it is the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to advocate for the rights, welfare and dignity of persons with spinal cord injuries.
Mrs Egede called for better inclusion and integration of their members into all segments of the society.
She noted that the day was meant to celebrate the strength and unwavering spirit of those who have been impacted by this challenge, while stressing the importance of creating a more enabled environment in accessing good healthcare , rehabilitation, employment for all survivors.
In his goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mr Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, ably represented by Mr Magaji Garba called on all Nigerians to stop all forms of discrimination, violence and assault towards persons with disabilities, while urging all Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, to step up their advocacy efforts for the implementation of the rights,welfare and dignity of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
Also speaking, former Special Adviser to the Sokoto State governor on disability affairs, Hon. Abdulazeez Ibrahim called for financial support for survivors to overcome the enormous economic challenges they face daily and live a meaningful life.
He further advised road users to always observe traffic laws and over speeding to avoid accidents that could lead to spinal cord injury.
Highpoints of the event was the donation and presentation of a brand new wheelchair to a survivor by the SSA in collaboration with SCIAN FCT.
