The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has appealed to governments at all levels to provide ease of lockdown guidelines for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), across the country.

Mr David Anyaele, Executive Director of the group, said this on Friday in Abuja during an online discussion with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), on disability-inclusive COVID-19 response and recovery.

Anyaele said that the group was concerned with the exclusion of PWDs from both the federal and state governments ease of lockdown guidelines.

“The exclusion is not only by the government; even the private sector has excluded PWDs from all plans and strategies while easing the lockdown.

“Looking at the different ease of lockdown guidelines, we observe that PWDs issues are missing in almost all the document seen so far.

“We feel that the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 at the federal level is not disability sensitive, so other governments and sectors are copying the federal government’s approach,” he claimed.

He said that the group was, however, ready to support both the federal and state governments in the development of a disability-sensitive COVID-19 ease of lockdown guideline to protect PWDs, especially in response and recovery.

He said that the organisation was not only committed to supporting the government to develop disability-friendly guidelines, but also help in creating more awareness on the COVID-19 pandemic among PWDs, especially on preventive measures.

He said that the group had implemented a project with the theme “Breaking Barriers against Nigerians with Disabilities (BBAND)”, through a component on Enhancing COVID-19 behavioural change among Nigerians.

“The goal of this intervention is to minimise the negative impact of COVID-19 among Nigerians with disabilities. The objectives are to raise awareness on COVID-19 among Nigerians with disabilities.

“It is also targeted at enhancing access to information and essential services among PWDs and to link PWDs to social security interventions of the governments,” he said.

Anyaele urged MDAs responsible for rehabilitation of PWDs to synergies and work together with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), to formulate educative and informative policies and strategies, and implement them.

Other participants of the online meeting included Organisations of Persons with Disabilities, Disability Clusters, as well as private and public disability stakeholders, .

Edited By: Olawunmi Ashafa and Ephraims Sheyin (NAN)

The Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria (ALDIN) has urged Nigerians to internalise the various ideals of June 12, the day set aside to celebrate democracy in the country.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Lagos, President of ALDIN, Mr Daniel Onwe, said that Nigerians should stop paying lip service to June 12 and embrace one another regardless of ethnic or religious inclinations.

“It is high time we internalise the ideals that June 12 symbolises. One of those ideals is prioritising the quality of the individual above his or her ethnic or religious inclination.

“On June 12, 1992, Nigerians across various religious and ethnic divides willingly voted for late Chief MKO Abiola because they believed in him as an individual.

“If your primary consideration for voting for persons is his religion or his ethnic group, you are anti June 12.

“Also, if your primary consideration in making appointments in your government is religion or ethnicity, you are anti June 12,” Onwe said.

The ALDIN president said another ideal that June 12 symbolised was the eventual triumph of justice over injustice.

“MKO Abiola was unjustly denied the Presidency of Nigeria, but today, though dead, he seems greater than a lot of leaders, including those who annulled his election.

“At least no other Nigerian, dead or alive, has a special day that has to do with his or her remembrance. The seeming triumph of injustice against justice is temporary,” he said.

Edited By: Chioma Ugboma/Wale Ojetimi (NAN)

….. Urges Members To Adhere Strictly To Preventive Measures Against Virus

Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) in Anambra State have made a clarion call to the State Government and philanthropists to remember its members while distributing palliatives and covid-19 relief items to residents in the State.

Organising Secretary of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) in the State, Gloria Mary Nwugo who spoke as a guest on Good Morning Anambra show anchored by Nonye Nwokoye on Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), said much as the State Government has done well in that regard, there were still a lot of PWDs yet to benefit.

“Like we have said before, appreciating our Governor cannot be overemphasized. Our Governor has done much. We have received palliatives from our Governor. Our Governor gave 100 10kg bag of rice to Disability community at the State level but the problem we are having here is that our members abounds.

“We are many and government alone cannot do that and some of the populace on sharing or dividing the palliatives on this era do not remember our members.

“So this the problem we are having and that’s why we are like appealing to everybody, the philanthropists, the churches and everybody, infact the general public on this issue. Nothing is too much and nothing is too small in order to reach out to our members because Governor has done his own. Individuals equally need to do theirs in other to get to where we are going,” said.

Nwugo, who is also a former Miss Wheelchair and a member of the Information and Communication Sub-Committee on Covid-19 Response Team, described the State Governor, Willie Obiano as a disability friendly governor, adding that the State was the first in Nigeria to pass the Disability Rights Bill into law in 2018.

She said the Disability Committee on Covid-19 inaugurated by Obiano has already hit the ground running and has continued to work round the clock to protect the interests of all PWDs in the State.

“Those in various sub-committees, we have been running up and down to make sure that there is something on their table.

“For example, the Information and Communication Committee, which I am a part of, that is the reason why we are here today. You know if not for any other thing to enlighten our members on the issue or rather the reality of this Covid-19. Because if this committee have not been inaugurated, maybe by today we wouldn’t have this opportunity that we have today to be here. So it part of what we are doing. So we are here today to enlighten our people on the reality of Covid-19.

“Other committees like Palliatives and Welfare Committee, that committee has done greatly in the sense that they have gone through many disability communities to find out about our members, to get the list of names of our members that need to be assisted at this Covid-19 era.

“As I speak to you now, we have about 1,500 members in Disability communities that needed to be assisted. We get phone calls every day from our members that they need assistance from us. So, that is the work of this Palliatives committee and they also make sure that if there’s any palliative being presented or being gotten from anybody, they will make sure that it gets to Disability community at the grassroots,” Nwugo said.

Corroborating her, Victoria Okonkwo, a member of the Contact and Mobilization Sub-Committee, appealed to well-meaning residents in Anambra to support the PWDs in their various communities and shun the temptation to discriminate against them.

“I’m appealing to the general public, at this moment they should remember Persons living with Disabilities. At times, you go to various communities, you see people sharing palliatives but they do not remember persons living with disabilities.

“So I’m appealing to the general public, the philanthropists to please know that we have persons like this in our state, in our communities and they should also try to render assistance in one way or the other. This is not a time to discriminate them but a time to carry us along,” she said.

Okonkwo added that efforts are ongoing to collate all PWDs in the State so as to ensure that no one is left out.

Nothing that it was a daunting task, she said the Committee was liasing with Director Generals in the State to help with a comprehensive list of all PWDs.

“The Fund Raising Committee is also doing their best trying to get some people that can assist in one way or the other. We have also tried to reach some of our members that are in need by giving them some money and palliatives in order to assist them,” she said.

Noting that till date no PWD in the State has contracted Covid-19, Nwugo, however urged PWDs in the State to continue to adhere to regulations and guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to prevent the spread of the virus.

“One of these rules is regular washing of our hands with soap and in running water. The use of hand sanitizers. Of course, the use of our face mask cannot be over emphasized and again maintaining of social distancing.

“The same thing is applicable to the Deaf and Dumb. The must make sure that the person interpreting for them does not come close to them. They must maintain that social distancing and make sure that they don’t tap them or touch them while they are interpreting. Then for the visually impaired, they will also make sure that the number of people that is assisting on a daily basis is restricted to one or two persons and those people must surely put on their face masks and again use hand sanitizers and hand gloves in order to feel save,” she urged.

By Chris Agbo

President Muhammadu Buhari in his broadcast to mark Democracy Day on Friday reaffirmed his commitment towards the well-being of persons with disabilities. He disclosed this in item number 83 of his broadcast when he said the following ” The Commitment of this administration to well-being of people living with disabilities is unwavering. Government recognises their contributions to development. I have directed that all relevant government agencies pay special attention to the peculiarities of persons with disabilities in the formulation and implementation of their policies and programmes and where suitable their employment.

It is commendable that Mr. President specially recognized the persons with disabilities on a special day like Democracy Day but the President missed an opportunity to made headlines in the mind of millions of NIgerians with disabilities and their families and friends by adding a statement like ” I hereby in accordance with the Discrimination against persons with disabilities (Prohibition) act 2018 establish a National Commission for Persons with disabilities”.

This would have been more assuring than giving directives to agencies of government who nobody will be there to ensure that they include PWDs in all their policies and programmes.

Read the full text of Presidential Broadcast on June 12, 2020 ( Democracy Day);

NATIONAL BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI ON DEMOCRACY DAY, JUNE 12TH 2020

Fellow Nigerians,

1. The 2020 celebration of Democracy Day marks 21 years of uninterrupted civil administration in our dear country. This day provides us an opportunity to reflect on our journey as a nation, our achievements and struggles.
2. It is a day to honour our founding fathers who toiled to establish our republic and every Nigerian who has worked tirelessly to sustain it.
3. We are celebrating this year’s Democracy Day despite the COVID-19 pandemic which afflicts our nation and the whole world.
4. It is indeed a very difficult time for everyone especially those who have lost loved ones to the virus and those whose sources of livelihood have been severely constrained by the stringent measures we introduced at every level of government to contain the virus and save lives.
5. The dedication of our health and other essential services staff towards containing this virus is a testament of our courage and resilience as a people and as a great nation, and I use this opportunity to say thank you to all of you for your service to the nation.
6. Sustaining our democracy thus far has been a collective struggle, and I congratulate all Nigerians and particularly leaders of our democratic institutions on their resilience and determination to ensure that Nigeria remains a shining example of democracy.
7. In my 2019 Democracy Day address, I promised to frontally address the nation’s daunting challenges, especially insecurity, economy and corruption. I therefore find it necessary to give an account of my stewardship on this day.
8. We have recorded notable achievements in the course of implementing our nine priority objectives and are establishing a solid foundation for future success.
9. On the economic front, our objectives have remained to stabilize the macroeconomy, achieve agricultural and food security, ensure energy sufficiency in power and petroleum products, develop infrastructure, fight corruption and improve governance.
10. We have witnessed eleven quarters of consecutive GDP growth since exiting recession. The GDP grew from 1.91% in 2018 to 2.27% in 2019 but declined to 1.87% in the first quarter of 2020 as a result of the decline in global economic activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
11. Every single economy in the world has suffered a decline. Ours has been relatively moderate.
12. In order to stabilize the economy, the Monetary Authority took steps to build the external reserves which resulted in improved liquidity in the foreign exchange market. The external reserves grew from $33.42 billion on April 29th 2020 to about $36.00 billion in May, 2020 which is enough to finance seven months of import commitments.
13. Agriculture remains the key to our economic diversification strategy. The Presidential Fertilizer Initiative programme continues to deliver significant quantities of affordable and high-quality fertilizers to our farmers. This initiative has also revived 31 blending plants and created a significant number of direct and indirect jobs across the value chain.
14. Government is also revamping the cotton, textile and garment sector via a CBN Textile Revival Intervention Fund that would considerably reduce foreign exchange spent on cotton and other textile imports.
15. Through the food security initiative, we are promoting “Grow What We Eat” and “Eat What We Grow”. I am also delighted that more and more Nigerians are taking advantage of the opportunities in the agriculture and agri-business sector. I assure you that government will continue to support the Agriculture sector through the CBN Anchor Borrowers Programme and similar schemes.
16. To protect our farming investments, we have deployed 5,000 Agro-Rangers and employed 30,289 in our para-military agencies.
17. We are also integrating rural communities to the formal economy by extending access to credit and inputs to rural farmers and building feeder roads.
18. Our efforts on growing non-oil exports have started to yield some results. For instance, in the past year, our revenue from Cocoa and Sesame Seed increased by $79.4 million and $153 million.
19. Africa presents a huge opportunity for our export base diversification and we are developing our strategy to grow intra-Africa trade through the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.
20. Nigeria has risen by 25 places on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking from 146th to 131st and is now rated as one of the top ten reforming countries.
21. This development is due to the Visa on Arrival policy, consistent promotion of initiatives that expand facilities available to Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, robust electronic registration and payment system, seamless processing of business registration and reduction of cost of registering business by 50%. We are confident that on-going efforts would result in further improvement of this rating.
22. We remain committed to expanding our mining sector. To this end, I have directed the resuscitation of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant based on Government-to-Government financing and a Public-Private Sector financing.
23. With foreign and domestic investments and the participation of Small Scale Miners, we are harnessing the supply value chain in gold production.
24. We would also be launching a fully digitized mineral rights management platform for quick processing of mineral rights application, digitization of records and plugging revenue leakages.
25. The Power Sector remains very critical to meeting our industrial development aspirations and we are tackling the challenges that still exist in the delivery of power through different strategies.
26. We are executing some critical projects through the Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme including the:

a. Alaoji to Onitsha, Delta Power Station to Benin and Kaduna to Kano;

b. 330kv DC 62km line between Birnin Kebbi and Kamba;

c. Lagos/Ogun Transmission Infrastructure Project;

d. Abuja Transmission Ring Scheme; and

e. Northern Corridor Transmission Project.

1. Our agreement with Siemens will transmit and distribute a total of 11,000 Megawatts by 2023, to serve our electricity needs.
2. On transportation, another critical sector to improving our economic competitiveness, we are growing the stock and quality of our road, rail, air and water transport infrastructure.
3. Through the SUKUK-Funded Road Projects, a total of 412km of the targeted 643km road projects have been completed, representing 64%.
4. The Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund projects are also progressing very well. On the 2nd Niger Bridge, piling work has been completed and the approach roads are being constructed. 48% of work on this bridge has been achieved. We have constructed 102km of the 376km Abuja – Kaduna – Kano Road, representing 38%, and the 42.9km Obajana – Kabba Road is 87.03% complete.
5. Furthermore, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency has completed routine maintenance on over 4,000km of federal roads out of the 5,000km targeted.
6. We are extending and upgrading our railway network too. We are introducing more locomotives, coaches and wagons for the Abuja-Kaduna Rail Line. The Central Ajaokuta – Itakpe – Warri Line has been completed and is being extended from Itakpe to Abuja on one end and from Warri Town to Warri Port on the other.
7. The Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line is 90% completed and would be extended to the Lagos Port which would help address the long-standing grid-lock at the Apapa port.
8. The Kano – Maradi Single Track Standard Gauge Railway, Coastal Railway Project and Port Harcourt – Maiduguri Standard Gauge Railway, with its associated branch lines running through the South Eastern and Gombe States, industrial park and Bonny Deep Sea Port are all ready for concessioning.
9. Government continues to make investments in the Aviation sector to position it as a travel and trade hub in West Africa and the wider African continent.
10. Airport Terminals in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt are being expanded, while the rehabilitation of the Enugu Airport is almost completed. All our airports are being raised to international standards with the provision of necessary equipment, especially navigational aids, to guarantee world class safety standards.
11. For the first time in over ten years, Nigeria is conducting bidding process for 57 Marginal Oil Fields to increase revenue and increase the participation of Nigerian companies in oil and exploration and production business.
12. We continue to grow local content in other areas of the oil and gas sector with the disbursement of funds from the $200 million Nigerian Content Intervention Fund to indigenous manufacturers and service providers.
13. With sustained engagement of youths, opinion leaders and other stakeholders, we have restored peace in the Niger Delta Region and maintained our oil production levels.
14. The Head office of the Niger Delta Development Commission will be commissioned shortly. The Funding of sections I–IV of the East-West Road shall be pursued with a view to completing the project by the end of 2021.
15. Furthermore, I am determined to ensure that development meant for the people of the Niger Delta get to them so I have authorised a Forensic Audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
16. Digital Economy continues to play an important role in our development agenda as we move into the age of Artificial Intelligence.
17. Since the creation of the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy has been launched. Steps have been taken to achieve a reduction of connectivity cluster gaps from 207 to 114 as well as increase the level of 4G coverage by 30%.
18. Nigeria remains committed to expanding access to quality education to enhance the productivity of its citizens and would continue to pursue the enforcement of free and compulsory basic education for the first 9 years of schooling.
19. In pursuit of this, we have launched the Better Education Service Delivery for All in 17 states, established additional 6 Federal Science and Technical Colleges and currently executing a pro-active Teacher Training Plan with all states of the Federation.
20. In our revision of the operations of specialized education funds and to implement reforms that would optimize their benefits to the sector, we have adopted a Public-Private Sector Partnership for provision of infrastructure and also collaborate with the private sector to create jobs.
21. Our pursuit of affordable housing for the low and middle-income earners has received a boost with the delivery of 1,200 housing units, provision of 520 service plots with infrastructure through a Public Private Sector partnership and the issuance of 868 mortgages totaling N7.7 Billion. Similarly, Home Renovation Loans totaling N16.2 Billion have been granted to 19,210 people.
22. To enable sustainable access to safe and sufficient water to meet the social, cultural, environmental and economic development needs of all Nigerians, we continue to expand our water supply, irrigation and dam facilities.
23. The Completion of Amauzari, Amla Otukpo and other 42 Earth Dams with combined job creation of about 43,354 direct jobs and 71,172 indirect jobs, would provide more support for irrigation agriculture and water supply.
24. To further institutionalize our effort in this regard, I signed the Executive Order 009 on Ending Open Defecation in Nigeria.
25. In order to improve our forest cover and in fulfilment of my commitment at the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2019, we have commenced the planting of 25 million trees. This initiative will also contribute to our effort to mitigate the effect of climate change.
26. In the area of security, we remain unshaken in our resolve to protect our national infrastructure including on-shore and off-shore oil installations, secure our territorial waters and end piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
27. Ending insurgency, banditry and other forms of criminality across the nation is being accorded appropriate priorities and the men and women of the Armed Forces of Nigeria have considerably downgraded such threats across all geo-political zones.
28. All the Local Governments that were taken over by the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa have long been recovered and are now occupied by indigenes of these areas who were hitherto forced to seek a living in areas far from their ancestral homes.
29. The total collapse of the economies of these areas, which constituted a threat to our food security, has also been reversed with the gradual recovery of farming and other economic activities.
30. I regret recent sporadic incidents with tragic loss of lives in Katsina and Borno States as a result of criminals taking advantage of COVID-19 restrictions. Security Agencies will pursue the perpetrators and bring them to swift justice.
31. I must implore state and local governments to revamp their intelligence assets so that the Security Agencies can nip in the bud any planned attacks in remote rural areas. I send my heartfelt condolences to all the relatives and communities affected.
32. As part of the strengthening of our internal security architecture, the Ministry of Police Affairs was created.
33. Amongst others, Government has expanded the National Command and Control Centre to nineteen states of the federation, resuscitated the National Public Security Communication System and commenced the implementation of the Community Policing Strategy.
34. Government has similarly established a Nigerian Police Trust Fund as a public-private sector vehicle for alternative sources of funding security activities.
35. To reduce security challenges through our external borders especially smuggling of oil products out of the country, inflow of small arms and drugs into the country and equally protect our local manufacturers, we introduced operation “Ex-Swift Response” closing our borders from August 20th 2019, and have considerably succeeded in meeting its objectives as well as improving our national revenue.
36. Our Government has continued to work to reduce social and economic inequality through targeted social investment programmes, education, technology and improved information.
37. Our Social Investment Programme has continued to be a model to other nations and has engaged 549,500 N-Power beneficiaries, 408,682 beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme and 2,238,334 beneficiaries of the Growth Enhancement and Empowerment Programme. This is being done in collaboration with the States.
38. Similarly, “Marketmoni” and “Tradermoni” Programmes have provided affordable loans to small and micro scale enterprises to grow their businesses. Under the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, over 9,963,729 children are being fed to keep them in school and improve their nutritional status.
39. Fellow Nigerians, the year 2020 has been like none other. In January 2020, the COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. The number of global infections has risen from less than 8,000 shared between China and eighteen other countries to over 7million spread over 216 countries and on all continents.
40. Nigeria recorded its first case of COVID-19 on February 27th 2020 and within the first 100 days, I have had cause to address the nation on three occasions within one month, which underscores the gravity of this pandemic.
41. There is no doubt that this pandemic has affected the global economy and all known socio-economic systems. It has also brought grief and pain to families that have lost their loved ones. Like many Nigerians, I feel the grief and pain not only as your President but also as someone who has lost a close member of my staff and some relatives and friends.
42. In order to have a robust National response, I approved a Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to provide guidance and leadership in tackling the pandemic nationwide.
43. State Governments also constituted their own COVID-19 Task Forces. Complementing this was the establishment of a National Emergency Operations Centre responsible for providing technical and professional guidance in the National Response.
44. The overall objective of the PTF COVID-19 is to ensure that the pandemic does not overwhelm our health systems, while ensuring that we maintain an effective Case Management System to help in containing the spread of the virus.
45. The impact of the pandemic has disrupted our economic system and to ensure its functioning while still addressing the spread, the Federal Government put in place a number of various non-pharmaceutical measures to slow down the spread of the virus, in addition to a progressive re-opening of the economy.
46. As part of the strategy to create jobs in reducing the effect of COVID-19 on our youths, I directed the employment of 774, 000 Nigerians. These youths will be engaged in Special Public Works Programme aimed at cushioning the effects of economic downturn. Each of the 774 local government areas in the country will be allotted 1,000 slots. I am pleased to report that this programme has commenced.
47. I receive regular briefing from the PTF on COVID-19. I note that the National Response relies on Science, Data and Experience in taking decisions. This informed my approval for the ease of lock down phase to ensure a balance between lives and livelihoods.
48. I am confident that the steps being taken by the PTF would result in flattening the COVID-19 curve. I, therefore, implore all Nigerians to abide by the approved guidelines and protocols. There is hope for us all if we take individual and collective responsibility.
49. Government is determined to turn this COVID-19 challenge into a motivation to action by building a nation-wide public health care system that will help us overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for any future outbreak.
50. Already, we have begun to look inward and I charge our inventors, researchers and scientists to come up with solutions to cure COVID-19.
51. Government has continued to implement accountability and transparent policies through the Open Government Partnership and the transparency portal on financial transactions. Similarly, we have strengthened auditing and accountability mechanisms so as to ensure that rules and regulations are followed strictly.
52. Anti-Corruption Agencies have secured more than 1,400 convictions and also recovered funds in excess of N800 billion. These monies are being ploughed into development and infrastructure projects.
53. The Public Service of Nigeria remains the bedrock for the formulation and implementation of policies, programmes and projects in the country. This accounts for why it continues to evolve especially as new socio-economic challenges emerge for Government to address.
54. I will continue to give all the necessary support for the on-going reforms designed to return discipline, integrity and patriotism as the hallmark of the public service.
55. In the face of dwindling resources and rising cost of governance, I have authorized that the White Paper on the Rationalisation of Government Parastatals and Agencies be reviewed for implementation.
56. Our youth population remains a source of strength in achieving development objectives. In this regard, we would continue to concentrate in developing their skills, providing them with opportunities to express their entrepreneurial, research and industrial capacities as well as ample opportunity to take leadership positions in the service of the nation.
57. The commitment of this Administration to the well-being of people living with disabilities remains unwavering. Government recognises their contributions to development. I have directed that all relevant Government agencies pay special attention to the peculiarities of persons with disabilities in the formulation and implementation of their policies and programmes, and where suitable their employment.
58. Nigerian women remain a particular treasure to this nation and for this reason this Administration has continued to give them a place of pride in the affairs of our country.
59. I salute your courage, enterprise and resilience as well as your contributions to national development. I wish to assure all our women of this administration’s determination to fight Gender Based Violence through the instrumentality of the law and awareness creation. I am particularly upset at recent incidents of rape especially of very young girls. The Police are pursuing these cases with a view to bringing perpetrators of these heinous crimes to swift justice.
60. Government continues to recognize and harness the power of the media for positive development. The reforms of the broadcast and advertising industries including digital switch over and continuous engagement through town hall meetings remain central to accurate and credible information dissemination.
61. Our culture provides the basis for our existence as a people and a nation. In preserving iconic aspects of our national culture, this government has been pursuing the recovery of artefacts removed from Nigeria, promoting heritage sites and festivals and working towards designating some of our heritage sites as UNESCO World Heritage Centres.
62. This administration is focused on ensuring that Nigeria would always be governed by the Rule of Law and I would do my utmost to uphold the constitution and protect the lives and property of all Nigerians.
63. Government has initiated a number of policies and programmes designed to promote the legal rights of Nigerians, facilitate the institutionalization of a responsive legal system, provide support to all constituted bodies in implementing their mandates and improve our custodial system of justice.
64. The National Assembly has been an important partner in our quest to sustain our democracy and achieve our development objectives.
65. I therefore greatly thank the leadership and members of the Senate and the House of Representatives for their invaluable support at all times.
66. I will also like to convey our deep appreciation to members of the Press for your doggedness in the struggle for attainment of democracy since the beginning of our nationhood.
67. I must admit that the relationship between the media and successive governments has not always been perfect. But there is no denying the fact that you have been an effective watchdog for the society especially in holding public officers to account. It is sad that in the course of securing our democracy, some of your colleagues have had to pay a heavy price.
68. We will continue to guarantee freedom of the Press as we place high premium on responsible journalism that is devoid of hate speech, fake news and other unethical professional conduct.
69. Fellow Nigerians, as we celebrate this year’s Democracy Day, let us remember that, notwithstanding our aspirations, humanity and indeed democracy is under the threat of COVID-19. Nigeria has survived many crises before and came out stronger. I am confident that by God’s grace we shall overcome this one and emerge stronger and more purposeful.
70. Thank you for listening. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

More…

Association of Women in Sports on Thursday distributed food items to para athletes in Kaduna.

The President of the group, Prof. Florence Adeyanju speaking at the event said that the gesture is to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 Lockdown on these athletes with disabilities. She said that as an association, they discovered that the athletes with disabilities are most hit at this lockdown so they need all the help they could get to survive this time.

One of the beneficiaries, Regina Emeh, a physically challenged athletes speaking to press, appreciated the gesture and she said that the food items will go long way to sustain her.

The food items distributed were cartoons of Noddles, bags of rice and some beverages.

The Qualitative Magazine learnt that no few than 50 athletes with disabilities benefited from the Palliative.

The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) says it has started carrying out surveys to access the extent of COVID-19 knowledge among the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

The survey will also monitor the numbers, if any, and accessibility of COVID-19 palliatives given to PWDS nationwide.

The Executive Director, Mr David Anyaele, made the disclosure on Thursday during an online training/capacity building session for PLWDs that would carry out the survey and evaluate the distribution of COVID-19 palliatives.

Anyaele said that the lockdown had exposed this vulnerable group to hardship and hunger by reason of their inability to fend for themselves.

“Citizens with disabilities fall under the vulnerable people category who, according to the Lagos State officials for example, said would be on the priority list during the distribution of the palliatives.

“However, many PWDs did not get anything contrary to the promise and this amounts to exclusion of many people.

“The Nigeria Disability Act, 2018 prohibits all forms of discrimination against persons with disability hence, the need to see if PWDs were inclusively captured in the distribution.

“Part 5, Article 25 of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 clearly states that

“In all situations of risk, violence, emergencies and the occurrences of natural disasters, the government shall take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and protection of persons with disabilities taking cognisance of their vulnerability,’’ he said.

Also, Mr Musa Musa, the Programme Assistant of CCD, told the News Agency of Nigeria in a telephone conversation that the capacity building and monitoring initiative would assess awareness level on the understanding of COVID-19 among PWDs.

According to Musa, it will also assess the impact as well as transparency and accountability mechanism deployed in the distribution of COVID-19 palliatives.

“The objective is to build the capacity of non-language interpreters and PLWDs across our native states, to be able to conduct a survey around the distribution of palliatives to persons with disabilities.

“It is also to understand the knowledge of COVID-19 among PWDs, to know whether these people are aware of the possibilities of contacting COVID-19 and all other information about it,’’ he said.

Musa said that as an organisation, after the survey, the reports and findings would allow adequate plans or key deliberate actions to educate persons with disabilities on the basics response around COVID-19.

According to him, it will also prompt actions on deficiencies involved in the distribution of palliatives during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

He said that the engagement would involve PWDs, heads and some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) basically, to go round and do the monitoring from street to street, local governments and others.

“The survey and report thereafter will be all encompassing. It will also border on states, federal, local government areas, non-profit organisations and individuals who gave out palliatives within the period.

“So, through our reports, it is only then that we will now know the long term effect or impact of these actions,’’ he said.

Edited By: Vivian Ihechu/Olagoke Olatoye (NAN)

A blind Corps Member, Gambo Dahiru serving in Katsina State has produced 1000 NYSC customized Face Masks and donated to members of the public.

Dahiru, who is from the 2019 Batch B Stream 2 Gambo Dahiru serving with Companion FM Radio in Katsina said, the gesture was part of his Community Development Service (CDS) to fight the spread of the novel COVID-19 pandemic in Katsina State.

The Youth Corps member with disability, who does not see his situation as a hindrance, said that fifty percent of the masks should be distributed to persons living with disabilities in the immediate society, forty percent to his fellow Corps members and ten percent to NYSC Staff to enable them carry out their supervision duties effectively without any hindrance in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

NYSC State Coordinator in Katsina State, Alh Ahidjo Yahaya while commissioning the project on Tuesday, described the Corps member as exemplary, saying he had weathered the storm associated with personally challenged persons to embark on a rare project that even able bodied Corps members cannot do.

The Coordinator who was represented by the Assistant Director, CDS, Alh Salimon Ayodeji remarked that NYSC produces Corps members who are useful to the society irrespective of the way they were created by God.

Ayodeji said that because of Corps Members like Gambo, the Scheme has become problem solving organization for the country, saying that it was the reason the NYSC was still existence after 47 years.

In his brief remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Katsina State on Disabled Matter, Alh Yau Rufa Zakka commended the Corps member for the initiative.

He assured that the noble project would get to the ears of the Governor.

The Project, according to Gambo was single handedly sponsored by a Non Governmental Organization, “Quality Life for Persons with Special Need Foundation”.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said it will partner with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHDSD) in the establishment of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission Tony Ojukwu Esq stated this during a courtesy visit to the Hon Minister, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, in Abuja.

Ojukwu said that although the establishment of the Disability Commission falls squarely on her Ministry, the NHRC will be happy to support her especially on issues of rights of persons with disabilities.

The Human Rights Boss stated further that mainstreaming human rights into governance yields better results. “We believe that if human Rights are mainstreamed in all government operations, it will be more successful, there will be less criticisms, there will be no stigmatisation, it will be more inclusive and people will be more patriotic and Nigeria will be better off”.

He commended the Hon Minister for the work of her Ministry in providing humanitarian assistance and Palliatives during different crisis situations, saying the issue of humanitarian intervention is always an emergency situation that requires good planning. He added that a well-planned intervention will solve a lot of humanitarian challenges in the country and suggested a shift from humanitarian Emergency to sustainable development.

Responding, the Minister said the NHRC is a pillar of exemplary leadership in enforcing human rights and respect for rule of law in the country. She assured that her Ministry is ever ready to collaborate with the Commission in carrying out its statutory mandate which includes, the formulation and implementation of fair and focused social inclusion and protection programs in Nigeria.

On the issue of the establishment of the Disability Commission, the Hon Minister again expressed her readiness to work with the NHRC on the establishment of the Disability Commission.

While commending the government on the passage of the Disability Act 2019, Hajiya Farouq said that the FMHDSD is seriously concerned about the issue of people with disabilities and will do all in its powers to give them the best that they deserve.

The federal government has donated 139 trucks of food items and relief materials to the Katsina State Government for onward distribution to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) within the eight front line local government areas of the state.

The items are also to be distributed to 83,039 vulnerable households in the state as palliatives to ease the effect of the lockdown resulting from the action taken to curtail the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic by government in the state.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Social Development and Disaster Management, Ms. Sadiya Farouq, presented the items to the state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mannir Yakubu, at the Government House Saturday evening.

She explained that the aim of the donation was to cushion the economic hardship faced by the IDPs and vulnerable persons affected by the lockdown.

The minister affirmed that the recent attacks by bandits in the state has led to the loss of lives and displacement of many people from their ancestral homes.

She lamented that bandits have continued to threaten the peace and livelihood of people in the affected communities of the state, adding that: “But also it is noteworthy that Mr. President has given the directive for decisive action by the military to bring an end to this menace.

“I am here to commiserate with the people of Katsina State especially those directly affected by the nefarious activities of banditry that bedevilled the state for a long time.

“Consequently, as actions are being taken against the bandits, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development through the National Emergency Management Agency delivered relief items to provide succour to the affected persons.

“We have deployed 13 assorted items comprising rice, beans, gari, vegetable oil, salt, mattresses, blankets, mosquito nets and buckets. These items are for distribution to the affected persons in the eight Local Government Areas of Dutsin-ma, Batsari, Safana, Danmusa, Sabuwa, Faskari, Kankara and Batagarawa.”

Meanwhile, the minister also presented assorted grains as palliatives for distribution to the vulnerable persons affected by the lockdown in the state.

She said: “The items are made up of 1,975.84 metric tonnes of maize (65 trucks), 300.02 metric tonnes of millet (10 trucks) and 1,876.11 metric tonnes of sorghum (63 trucks) to cater for 83,039 households.”

Responding, the state Deputy Governor, Yakubu, commended the federal government for the gesture and vowed to distribute the items to the beneficiaries.