Abuja, Nigeria — In a resounding call for equality and inclusion, the Ability Life Initiative (TALI), a non-governmental organisation, has urged government agencies, policymakers, and stakeholders to take urgent steps towards making transportation and housing accessible and affordable for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) across Nigeria.
The appeal came during a high-level stakeholders’ forum on Inclusive Transport and Accessible Housing, convened in Abuja, bringing together leaders of disability-focused institutions, human rights defenders, and housing and transport regulators. The dialogue was not only a brainstorming session but also a summit of responsibility, as described by TALI’s Co-Founder, Dr. Prada Uzodimma.
“The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has set before us both a challenge and an opportunity to provide evidence-based, actionable inputs on transport accessibility in Nigeria,” Dr. Uzodimma declared. “This is about ensuring that persons with disabilities are not just subjects of policy but authors of change, central in planning, implementation, and monitoring.”
She emphasised that the gathering was more than rhetoric; it was an urgent call to dismantle barriers on roads, rails, waterways, and in urban spaces. Highlighting Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the 2018 Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, she challenged participants to measure progress with honesty and innovate practical solutions — from accessible taxis to inclusive housing models.
NHRC Throws Its Weight Behind the Cause
The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu, reinforced the Commission’s commitment to the rights of PWDs, stressing that transport and housing are rights, not privileges.
“This forum is convened under the auspices of Human Rights Council Resolution 55/8, which mandates OHCHR to prepare its annual thematic study on the rights of persons with disabilities, focusing on inclusive infrastructure, transport, and housing,” Ojukwu explained.
He noted that the Commission’s role is to create an enabling environment where the rights of every Nigerian — including those with disabilities — are upheld. He described the forum as an opportunity to collate critical information, develop recommendations, and deepen partnerships for real change.
NCPWD Pushes for Enforcement
Echoing these sentiments, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Mr. Ayuba Gufwan, described the forum as “apt and timely.” He highlighted Section 9 of the Disability Act, which guarantees equal access to goods, services, and facilities for PWDs, stressing that compliance is long overdue.
“My administration is proud of this bold initiative taken by TALI. The time to emphasise total adherence to this section is long overdue — and its enforcement is now,” Gufwan asserted.
He assured participants that effective modalities have already been put in place by his administration to secure and protect these liberties.
Housing Authority Promises Accessibility
On the housing front, the Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Mr. Ojo Oyetunde, represented by Arch. Peter Okpanachi, acknowledged TALI’s demands as not only legitimate but backed by international obligations such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
Oyetunde revealed that FHA already has plans underway to build affordable and accessible housing specifically tailored for persons with disabilities, describing inclusion as a priority in the Authority’s development agenda.
A Movement for 35.5 Million Nigerians
The event spotlighted TALI’s bold vision for Nigeria’s estimated 35.5 million persons with disabilities, who continue to face systemic barriers to mobility, housing, education, and healthcare.
Founded by Dr. Prada Uzodimma and Ms. Oprah, the Ability Life Initiative is a grassroots movement committed to bridging gaps, dismantling discrimination, and empowering PWDs. Its programs span education, healthcare, housing, mental health, and advocacy, ensuring that the voices of PWDs are not only heard but placed at the center of national development.
From Dialogue to Action
At the close of the forum, stakeholders collectively outlined key objectives:
- Identifying the real challenges faced by PWDs in transportation and housing;
- Reviewing existing policies, laws, and regulations against CRPD obligations and Nigeria’s Disability Act;
- Showcasing innovative solutions, such as accessible taxis and scalable housing models;
- Developing evidence-based, actionable recommendations in response to OHCHR’s 16-point request;
- Strengthening collaboration between government agencies, operators, OPDs, and civil society;
- Ensuring meaningful participation of PWDs in every stage — from planning to monitoring.
The forum ended with a renewed sense of urgency: that progress must move beyond dialogue into tangible reforms. Stakeholders agreed that ensuring inclusive transportation and housing is not charity but a matter of justice, dignity, and human rights.
As Dr. Uzodimma aptly concluded, “History will not only record our discussions, but our courage to act.”
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