As the five-year moratorium on accessibility compliance comes to a close on the15th January, 2024, the National Commission for Persons With Disabilities has spelt out certain parameters expected of public facilities in order to accommodate Persons With Disabilities.
The Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons With Disabilities, Mr. James David Lalu who was represented by Engr. Hannah Olayinka of Accessibility Department NCPWD, reeled out the specifics as well as the structural designs of public facilities that will guarantee inclusivity in our society recently at Human Rights Radio and Television Studious in Abuja.
Lalu hinted that the Commission has intervened in many higher institutions to effect disability friendly infrastructures.
The ES as well informed about the various types of Accessibility which include: Physical, Digital, Communication, and Transport accessibility.
He further lamented that despite public enlightenment and Sensitization by the Commission, people still find it difficult to differentiate one type of Accessibility from the other.
He, however, described the common ramps in most public facilities as luggage ramps and which do not have the right features for wheelchair users.
He equally mentioned the infrastructural redesigning of University of Ilorin, Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto where special intervention funds have been put to use in order to make the institutions accessible.
“If you visit the Leprosy village in Alheri, Kwali, the environment has become more conducive and habitable with the construction of 40 Units of accessible public toilets in compliance with the National Accessibility Standard code. This will minimize the rate of disease infections in that vicinity” He disclosed.
Lalu, therefore, urged the public not to hesitate to ask for the right advice from the Commission in the construction of accessible structures.
However, one of the leading Partners of the Commission, the Sightsavers Nigeria, represented by the Country Advocacy Co-ordinator Esther Bature, lauded the efforts of the Executive Secretary towards bringing to fruition the mandate of the Commission.
She further called on other Development Partners and Disability Stakeholders to collaborate with the Commission for more valuable results.
