CENTRE FOR CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES (CCD) on Monday held a virtual meeting titled “PRESS BRIEFING: COVID-19 PANDEMIC: THE SITUTION OF NIGERIANS WITH DISABILITIES” with media practitioners and leaders of Disabled People’s Organizations. In the meeting, CCD draw the attention of these critical stakeholders to understand the extent COVID-19 has adversely affected NIgerians with disabilities and proffer ways PWDs can be mainstreamed in the fight to curb the spread of the virus.

The executive director of CCD, David Obinna Anyaele said that as the whole world is engulfed with the pandemic which is undoubtedly affecting the social, economic and political life of every nation of the world, the consequence is mostly felt by persons with disabilities across board. Pointing out that Last week, the United Nation General secretary Antonio Guttres during a briefing at the UN House drew the attention of the world on the need to adequately mainstream issues of persons with disabilities in the fight against the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic. Mr. Guttress made the world to appreciate how this pandemic is affecting over billion people with disabilities as even under normal circumstances, persons with disabilities are less likely to access education, healthcare and income opportunities or participate in the community.

Globally, and Nigeria in particular, it is recognized fact that people with disabilities are more likely to live in poverty, and they experience higher rates of violence, neglect and abuse. The pandemic is intensifying these inequalities — and producing new threats. Covid-19 pandemic has dealt a heavy blow on citizens with disabilities. Under normal day, PWDs struggle for almost everything be it public infrastructures, information, rehabilitation, healthcare services, inclusion and participation in government programs and activities, let alone implement basic hygiene measures.

Speaking further, he recognized the fact that PWDs were compelled to wage 18 years struggle for the passage of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 which President Mohammadu Buhari signed more than 15 months now, but without commit to its implementation. Thus, the Presidential task force on Covid-19 is finding it difficult to implement even as organisations of persons with disabilities have several efforts to draw the attention of the leadership of PTF on Covid-19 without success.

Recognizing also that despite the institutional role the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development is saddled with in addressing the issues and concerns of persons with disabilities, the Ministry is yet to come out with Disability Sensitive Policies and program that will address the vulnerability nature of persons with disabilities during and after the covid-19 pandemic.

Worried that more than 25million persons with disabilities in Nigeria are one of the most excluded groups in our society and are among the hardest hit in this crisis in terms of health and Economic impact. This global crisis of COVID-19 is deepening pre-existing inequalities, exposing the extent of exclusion and highlighting that work on disability inclusion has not been addressed by the Nigeria government.

In view of the current situation, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities joins the global call for an integrated approach that will ensure that persons with disabilities are not left behind in COVID-19 response and recovery. As the most vulnerable group, CCD calls for prioritizing disability issues at the centre of the response, ensuring inclusion and participation of PWDs during planning and implementation.

All COVID-19 related action must prohibit any form of discrimination based on disability and take into consideration the intersections of gender and age, among other factors. This is imperative to address and prevent barriers that may arise during response and recovery.

To achieve the above highlighted and in line with UN Policy on Covid-19 and PWDs, CCD urge government at all levels to take appropriate measure to:

Ensure mainstreaming of disability in all COVID-19 response and recovery plans with targeted actions. This is to ensure that all gaps are close around disability and Covid-19 pandemic.

Ensure accessibility of information, facilities, services and programmes in the COVID-19 response and recovery plans.

Accessibility is fundamental to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the immediate health and socio-economic response to COVID-19. If public health information, the built environment, communications and technologies, and goods and services are not accessible, people with disabilities cannot take necessary decisions, live independently and isolate or quarantine safely, or access health and public services on an equal basis with others.Ensure meaningful consultation with and active participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in all stages of the COVID-19 response and recovery. Persons with disabilities have important contributions to make in tackling the crisis and building the future. Many persons with disabilities have experience of thriving in situations of isolation and alternate working arrangements that can offer models for navigating the current situation. Perspectives and lived experiences of disability contribute to creativity, new approaches and innovative solutions to challenges.

Establish accountability mechanisms to ensure disability inclusion in the COVID-19 response. Ensure inclusive investments to support disability-inclusive outcomes. Governments, donors, and other actors need to establish mechanisms to monitor investments to ensure it is reaching persons with disabilities. Disaggregating data by disability is key to ensure accountability.

He also called on PTF on Covid-19 pandemic to mandate National Centre for Disease Control to create a dedicated hotline, ambulances, and transport facilities for persons with disabilities to enable them access information and routine medical checkups. The challenge of hunger in disability communities is getting worst by the day, as such priority attention is needed on access to food and other palliatives to ensure they are not left behind in the distribution of relief materials.

CCD has commenced the implementation on Covid-19 Behavourial Change among Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria. The goal of the project is to minimize the negative impact of Covid-19 among Nigerians with disabilities. The objectives of the intervention are to: raise awareness on Covid-19 among Nigerians with disabilities; enhance access to information and essential services among persons with disabilities; link persons with disabilities to social security interventions of the governments. Part of the activities for the intervention include: Publicity sensitization on Covid-19 and PWDs, establish toll free lines to support PWDs on Covid-19, Convene online discussion, Online Sensitization of PWDs on Covin-19, Online observation of Support to PWDs, Monitor PWDs access to humanitarian support by the government amongst other, He concluded.

Their partners on the project are: Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), Ford Foundation, Disability Rights Fund, and the Government and good people of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, he appreciated them for their support in this pandemic period.

The Association of People with Disabilities (APWD) in Ogun State has complained that the relief items distributed by the state government have not been reaching their members.

Speaking in Ijebu-Ode, its state chairman, Mr. Abiodun Adebesin, urged Governor Abiodun to wade in by making a special arrangement to cater to the need of the residents with disabilities.

“The truth is that, once people without disabilities in our communities get hold of these items, they don’t remember us in any way.

“When there was no lockdown, we were living a life of social neglect and living from hand to mouth; how about now that nothing is working, owing to the Covid-19 lockdown? Our fate is better imagined,” Adebesin lamented.

He urged the state government to relate with their association in distributing relief items meant for its members across the state, even as he applauded the administration of Governor Abiodun, “… for having a human face”.

by Ridwan Fasasi

Five hundred less privileged people in Oyo State have benefitted from relief packages from Muslim Coalition against COVID-19.

The items distributed are Rice ,Beans and Garri.

The beneficiaries are from ten local governments in the State and were coordinated by five Muslim organisations from the coalition.

 The local governments include Afijio, Atiba, Ibarapa, Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South, Ibadan North, Ibadan North West, Ibadan South West, Akinyele and Lagelu. 

The five coordinatimg organisations are Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria MSSN,  Dawah Front, The Muslim Congress TMC, Federation  of Muslim Women  Association of Nigeria FOMWAN and  Al-Muminat.

At the distribution of the packages in Ibadan to the organisations for onward transfer to the beneficiaries, Oyo State Coordinator of the group, Alhaji Abideen Ladeji said the palliative was to reduce the hardship on the people during the lockdown caused by ravaging coronavirus pandemic. 

“The beneficiaries are basically the poor ,irrespective of religion,  people with disabilities, these are people who are mostly affected by this lockdown due to coronavirus.”. 

“We are  starting this pilot distribution in Abuja, Lagos, Rivers ,Oyo and Osun states and we have spent over N5 million for the pilot scheme”.

Alhaji Ladeji said the coaliton which consists of over 50 organisations targeted N500 million to be spent on the vulnerable throughout Nigeria, stressing that they would come back to Oyo State to cover more local governments.

One of the beneficiaries,Mr Tijani Abdullah, who is a physically challenge person, commended the gesture, saying it was timely.

“A lot of physically challenge persons are just there at home suffering from hunger at this period of COVID-19 pandemic luckdown, we really appreciate ithis gesture.”

Another beneficiary, Mrs Oyedele Afsat , also commended the coaliton, saying things are very difficult in this period.

She called on government at all levels to come to the assistance of the less privilege in the society. 

Commenting at the pilot centre in Lalupon for Lagelu Local Government, the Chief Imam of Lalupon, Shelkh Waliyulah Otegbeye, said the palliatives would make relief in term of difficulty faced by the less privilege in the society.

Initiative for Eradication of Poverty and Empowerment of the Disabled (IFEPED has forwarded petition to The Executive Secretary of State Emergency Management Agency( SEMA) Enugu State, alleging that Samuel Obiefuna hijacked palliatives donated by state government to persons with disabilities.

See below the full content of the letter as it was sent to qualitativemagazine@yahoo.com.

Initiative for Eradication of Poverty and Empowerment of the Disabled (IFEPED)17/23 Ogui Road, Enugu.
The Executive SecretaryState Emergency Management Agency(SEMA) Enugu3rd Floor, Abuja BuildingGovernment House, Enugu.

Sir,

FORWARDING A PETITION ON THE HIJACKED PALLIATIVES, STATE GOVERNMENT DONATED TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES IN THE STATE BY ONE SAMUEL OBIEFUNA.

In keeping with the determination/disposition of the Enugu State Government under the able leadership of His Excellency, Rt Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to continue to protect lives and property of the citizens and give succor to the people living with disabilities(PWD), we sincerely wish to appreciate/thank the Governor for the palliatives donated to PWD in the state to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic now ravaging the world.
It is also noteworthy and commendable the ingenuity and resilience of the state government to contain the spread of the virus in the state. May God continue to bless all these good works.
Sir, it is our pleasure at this juncture to use this medium to introduce the above named Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) IFEPED, formed and registered under the Corporate Affairs Commission to champion the course of people with disabilities and indigent citizens in Nigeria and South East in particular.
Therefore, the purpose of this letter, subject matter above is to forward the petition by a person with disability, Mr Ugwu Osmond O. from Udenu LGA on how one Mr Obiefuna Samuel and his Cohorts hijacked the palliatives donated to the PWD in the state and purported to have distributed them to the people concerned.
Our investigations and from what we read in the media to be specific the Tuesday, 14th April,2020 edition of the Sun Newspaper(see attached) showed that the state government through the office of the SPA to the Governor on Education handed over large quantities of palliatives to PWD in the state at a ceremony in Udenu LGA. On further investigation, we were made to understand that Mr Obiefuna Samuel and his Cohorts received the items on behalf of the PWDs in the state and claimed to have distributed them to the PWD.
Unfortunately and regrettably too, from that day till now, IFEPED Office had been inundated with oral complaints and written petitions by PWD from almost all the LGAs in the state including one Mr Osmond O. Ugwu against Mr Obiefuna on how the hijacked items were distributed and we are certain that less than 20% of the PWD in the state received the palliatives.
We are constrained to note with regret that this very good intention of our dear Governor, Rt Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to assist the PWD in the state during this hard times occasioned by COVID-19 was poorly handled by Mr Obiefuna for his selfish interest.
It is therefore our appeal/ request that you use your highly respected office to carry out proper investigation on the contents of this petition attached with a view to finding out why Mr Obiefuna hijacked the palliatives meant for PWD in the state and to compel him to account or explain modalities used in the purported distribution of the items.
We also find it difficult to understand why the authority in charge of this very important programme of government failed or was unable to use people that are transparent or true representative of PWD in the state to handle this distributions.
Such important assignment of government should not be given to very dubious person like Mr Obiefuna who diverted transport business given to him to manage by Very Rev. Msgr. Prof. Johnbosco Akam from Uga, Anambra State for the betterment of lives of people living with disabilities in Enugu State some years ago. Any one in doubt of this business venture between Rev Fr. Akam and Mr Obiefuna can cross check with our Spiritual Director and Archbishop of Enugu Eccl. Province/Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Enugu.
We therefore humbly submit the attached petition for your investigation and necessary action with a view:*To ensuring that PWD in the state received what is due to them from government.*To stop further business/ transaction in the future with Mr Obiefuna in any matter concerning PWD in the state because of his dubious character.
We have every confidence that our letter and the attached petition will receive a formidable treatment.

Yours for the betterment of PWD,

Ugwu Victor Clifford, President.
Mrs Kate Chinyere Onovoh, Secretary.

Cc:*His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi,Governor Enugu State.*The ALGON Chairman Enugu State.*The SPA to Governor Ugwuanyi on Education.

A foremost disability focused organization, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities has expressed dismay over Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 insensitive to disability inclusion in issuing the ease of lockdown guidelines.

President Mohammadu Buhari in a nationwide broadcast on Monday 27th of April, 2020 had announced that the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) on Covid-19 would provide implementation guidelines on the new measures to control the Covid-19 pandemic.

The PTF on April 30, 2020 issued guidelines to states and security agencies, detailing activities to be allowed under phase one of gradual easing of the lockdown in Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Federal Capital Territory which took effect on Monday, May 4, 2020.

In a press release on Wednesday, The executive director of CCD, David Obinna Anyaele expressed his concern that issues concerning citizens with disabilities’ access to mandatory provision of handwashing facilities/sanitizers in public places, priority access to places of economic activities and accessible isolation centres for persons with disabilities were omitted.

Anyaele added that issues around persons with disabilities’ usage of bus stops, motor parks, banks and financial institutions, government offices and other corporate organizations among the key sectors that government are monitoring citizens compliance to the guideline on Covid-19 pandemic containment were missing in the guidelines.

He is worried that the general information on new measures on the Covid-19 pandemic is silent on accessibility, attitude, communication, transportation, participation and protection of persons with disabilities from the general public in regards to curbing the spread of the virus.

“What we can deduce from these guidelines is that PTF on Covid-19 are insensitive to the plight of persons with disabilities. Our observation shows that persons with disabilities are not among vulnerable groups earmarked to benefit from government palliatives and social intervention programmes, as such persons with disabilities lives does not matter.”he said.

“We call on the Boss Musapha-led PTF on Covid-19 to review the guidelines on relaxing the lockdown to ensure that issues of critical concern to PWDs in Nigeria are addressed. In particular we urge PTF-Covd-19 to activate relevant sections of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 in particular sections 25,26 and 27 of the Act which provides access and priority consideration of persons with disabilities in healthcare, queues, and emergency situations.”

“We also call on PTF on Covid-19 to mandate National Centre for Disease Control to create a dedicated hotline, ambulances, and transport facilities for persons with disabilities to enable them access information and routine medical checkups. The challenge of hunger in disability communities is getting worst by the day, as such priority attention is needed on access to food and other palliatives to ensure they are not left behind in the distribution of relief materials.” Anyaele concluded.

Joint National Association of Persons with disabilities (JONAPWD) Board of Trustees congratulate all our mothers on mother’s day celebration.

In a press statement signed by the Chairman of BOT, Prince Paul Adelabu, he prayed for all mothers to live long and enjoy the fruits of their labours in Jesus name. He advise all men to respect and please our women, make them happy and put smile in their faces in any way possible. Speaking further, he called for improvement on our agendas for women more than before. We are happy to see many of them running their Organizations successfully and making good contributions to disability development in their various activities. Jonapwd as the only umbrella organisation appreciates all women especially women with disabilities, he said.

He congratulated women with disabilities and proposed an award day for them next year to mark mother’s day.

By Chris Agbo, Abuja

FCT PWDs Committee on COVID-19 palliative on Saturday concluded their weeklong distribution of palliative to persons with disabilities( PWDs) to six area councils of FCT in Abaji Area Council.

The exercise took place at Mass Education Centre, Abaji. As usual, PWDs came out in their hundreds and the committee successful distributed the food items. All present at the venue got the relief materials and they were elated that FCT government remembered them in a special way.

The chairman of the committee, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Ujah in a chat with The Qualitative Magazine, thanked God for successful distribution exercise although the six area councils. He praised the PWDs in FCT for the trust and confidence placed on the committee by comporting themselves in a peaceful manner in all the places visited. He went on to commend the Minister of State FCT for giving the committee the opportunity to serve.

Lois Auta, the committee vice chairman thanked God for granting the committee a rancour free distribution exercise and she specially thanked the Minister of State FCT for reaching out to PWDs in the FCT. She pleaded to FCT government to always remember PWDs in all their interventions because they are most hit in a time like this.

Some pictures of the event: