Centre for Citizens With Disabilities (CCD) has expressed concern over the non inclusion of facilities that would provide access for 25 million Nigerians with Disabilities at newly opened Akanu Ibiam International airport, Enugu.
In a press statement sent to TQM signed by The Executive Director, Mr. David Obinna Anyaele, the group commended President Mohammed Buhari for the reopening of Akanu Ibiam International Airport after many months of shot down.
They are excited that flight can resume at the airport. They appreciated Presidential Buhari for his commitment to infrastructural development in the country, which compelled him to take action to ensure the dilapidated condition of the airport runway is rehabilitated.
They are pleased to note that other facilities such as taxiway, linkway, emergency operation centre, car park, entrance of the gate, perimeter fence and other critical airport infrastructures were provided in the rehabilitation project.
But they are disappointed that the government once again failed to ensure that the rehabilitation of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport includes the provision of Wheelchair lift designed for safety, and access to aircraft for passengers with disabilities
The group expressed concern that more than 90% of airports in Nigeria are not accessible to citizens with Disabilities in Nigeria, even as the Akanu Ibiam International Airport rehabilitation was delivered without consideration to key Airport infrastructures pertinent to more that 25 million Nigerians with disabilities.
They pointed that this omission is at variance with President Buhari’s June 12, 2020 directives which include “that all relevant Government agencies pay special attention to the peculiarities of persons with disabilities in the formulation of their policies and programmes, and where suitable their employment”
“The none-inclusion of disability sensitive infrastructures in the rehabilitation of Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu, conflicts with the provisions of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 as known as the National Disability Act. Section 14 (2) of the Act provides that “All airports shall make available for the conveyance of persons with disabilities who need presentable and functional assistive and protective devices to and from the airport” the reminded.
The group regret the fact that Enugu State Government is yet to adopt the National Disability Act, a situation that has exposed persons with disabilities in the State to constant discrimination, exclusion and neglect by the State government, as the State depends on charity based approach in addressing disability issues, which is not sustainable.
They called on President Mohammadu Buhari to compel the Minister of Aviation to provide without delay wheelchair lift designed for safety, and access to aircraft for passengers with disabilities in all the Airports across the Federation.
They also urge Mr. President to take necessary actions to ensure that Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, in particular Federal Ministry of Aviation implements the National Disability Act.
The President should also ensure that the N1 billion terminal building expansion includes disability sensitive infrastructures such as disability friendly toilets and carparks amongst others.
They called on Enugu State Government to adopt the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 without further delay, as many States in the Federation have passed Disability Laws to protect their own citizens with disabilities from discrimination and hardship associated with disability.
The group reaffirmes that committment towards holding the government accountable to ensure full implementation of the National Disability Act.
The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) is the premier organization of, and for persons with disabilities that works to promote disability rights, independent living, and inclusion of persons with disabilities and their families in development agenda. It also works to educate, support, and empower persons with disabilities to maximize their potentials. CCD led CSOs campaign for the passage of National Disability Act in 2019.
CCD have over the past ten years sought a redefinition of the societal response to the plights of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
