Special Adviser to Anambra State Governor on Disability Matters, Barr. Chuks Ezewuzie has begun moves to ensure that all public buildings in the State are accessible by Persons Living With Disabilities (PWDs) in accordance with the Disability Rights Law.

Ezewuzie, while speaking to members of the Anambra State Association of Hotel owners at an event, stressed the need to key into the provisions of the Anambra State Disability rights law.

The law stipulates that public buildings which include hotels should make their environment accessible to persons with Disabilities, by providing wheelchair ramps, Braille marked elevators and train their staff in Sign Language, so as to enhance the comfort and increased patronage of their business outlets by persons with Disabilities.

The event, which was organized by the Anambra State Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, Indigenous Artwork, Culture and Tourism at the SSG’s conference Hall, Government House, witnessed the presence of Chief Executive officers of hotels in the State and general tourism partners aimed at boosting the tourism industry in the state.

Ezewuzie pledged the commitment of his office to train workers of interested hotels in sign language, and collaborate with the hotels to provide Braille markings and install wheelchair ramps for their buildings.

The Office of the Wife of Governor in collaboration with the Ekiti State Government have finally distributed relief materials as palliatives to persons with disabilities in Ekiti State to cushion the effect of lockdown.

The items were handed over to leadership of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities and Disable People Organisations in Ekiti.

The leaders of clusters who could not hide their feelings appreciated Erelu Bisi Fayemi and the government of Ekiti state under the leadership of Dr. John Kayode Fayemi for the gesture.

In his words, the chairman of JONAPWD in Ekiti state, Mr Kayode Owolabi appreciated the wife of the governor and the government for their love and support for persons with disabilities.

He said disability community were the most affected during this COVID-19 pandemic as they can not do much to earn a living and most of their care-givers are also trapped in the lockdown.

He also said that the relief materials would go a long way in ameliorating their suffering.

The Executive Director of Disability Not A Barrier Initiative (DINABI), Engr. Olajide Funso who is also the General Secretary of JONAPWD thanked the Governor of Ekiti state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his wife for the laudable support at such a critical time.

He said “Persons with disabilities are the most vulnerable even among the vulnerable groups, stating that the impact that COVID-19 have had on PWDs is disturbing and alarming.

“The palliative support will no doubt serve as succour to the teeming PWDs in Ekiti.

He called on all well-meaning Nigerians both home and abroad, corporate bodies and government at all levels to rise up and help the disability community in this trying period.

While speaking on the initiative, the PRO of JONAPWD in Ekiti, Miss Bankole Gbemisola thanked those who supported their cause during advocacy for the palliative support which include Hon. Biodun Oyeleye, SSA on Civil Society Matters; Hon.(Mrs) Omotunde Fajuyi, Chairperson, Ado Local Government; Hon Muyiwa Olumilua, Commisioner for Information; Dr.(Mrs) Abimbola Solanke, SA on SDGs and others.

The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has appreciated the government and good people of Lagos, Ekiti, Akwa-ibom and Yobe states on their deliberate gesture for providing relief items to persons with disabilities to cushion the effect of Covid- 19 otherwise call corona virus. This singular act will surely go a long way in ameliorating the living standard of persons with disabilities at this trying times.

In a press statement signed by The Executive Director, CCD, Mr. David Anyaele on Wednesday, he said that CCD as an organization is particularly happy that these palliatives came at the time persons with disabilities need it most considering their social economic status in their various communities.

However, CCD is concerned that despite the great effort made by the aforementioned states in reducing the hardship for persons with disabilities in their states, Kaduna state and other states are yet to wake up from the realities on ground by incorporating persons with disabilities into their social protection scheme thereby subjecting them to all hardship of hunger and starvation.

CCD is worried that this is coming barely two months after Governor Nasiru El -rufai publicly committed during public hearing on the proposed Kaduna state social protection policy to ensure persons with disabilities are properly mainstream into social protection programs in the state.

In the light of the above, CCD called on Kaduna state government and other states that are yet to make such intervention to closely consult with leadership of persons with disabilities at the state to identify their members who are in dire need of this support for onwards provision. CCD also called on the Hon. Minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development to immediately review the template and list of beneficiaries of Conditional cash transfer, N-power, Trader money and other programs under national social protection program to include persons with disabilities to avoid contravening section (26) of Discrimination against persons with disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018.

CCD also admonished persons with disabilities to while anticipating government intervention in this regards, to strictly adhere to other preventive measures outlined by WHO and NCDC such as washing of hands with water and soap or applying alcohol base sanitizer, including their aids and appliances (guide cane, wheel chairs etc) observe social distancing, avoids crowded environment and if you feel any symptoms like constant sneezing, coughing and mild fever please report to the authority.

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, inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in development agenda. CCD coordinated CSOs campaign for the passage of the National Disability Bill, now an Act.

by Onyirioha Nnamdi

– The federal government has revealed the categories of Nigerians who will get palliatives amid coronavirus

– The government said that these persons include the poor and people living with disabilities

– The federal government has also handed over the task of the distribution of the palliatives to state governors

Amid coronavirus, the federal government has said that its palliatives will be given to very poor persons in the country and those who are living with disabilities.

This was revealed by the minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, on Monday, April 13, in Abuja, Daily Trust reports.

Moreover, in response to the request by state governors, the federal government has handed over the task of the distribution of palliatives to governors amid coronavirus.

The new decision of the Nigerian government was announced by Umar-Farouk in her speech at a national briefing on the efforts of the federal government to assist governors with funds.

The minister said: “…we’ve decided to hand over these food relief (items) to the state governors for onward redistribution to their citizens, the poor and vulnerable in the society.”

Speaking further, the minister revealed that the government has distributed truckloads of food items to Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states, adding that the gesture has also been extended to Imo and Ebonyi.

Umar-Farouk on Wednesday, April 1, said that this is part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s plan to help vulnerable Nigerians to cope with the lockdown order over coronavirus.

Umar-Farouk added that the disbursement of the funds will continue for four months starting from March 2020.

The minister said: “We have directed immediate cash transfer to the poorest and most vulnerable households in the country. “Because of this COVID-19, the vulnerable groups have to expand, because we are aware that there are people who live on daily wage…”

Meanwhile, the federal government had said that it would reach out to at least 11 million Nigerians with reliefs to cushion the discomforting effect of measures set in place to tackle the spread of coronavirus in the country.

The proposed move by the government was revealed on Tuesday, March 31, by Umar Farouk. Sadiya, speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, revealed that the federal government had a list of vulnerable persons who would be beneficiaries in the country and that such category of citizens belongs to about 2.6 million households.

Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun has ordered the immediate payment of stipends due to 25,907 vulnerable persons  in the state.

The stipends were part of palliative measures to cushion the impact of  the state-wide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the state.

Mr Lawal Olayemi, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports in the state, disclosed this on Tuesday in Ile-Ife  during the distribution of debit cards to beneficiaries of the stipends.

Olayemi said the governor also directed the immediate distribution of debit cards linked to the accounts of the beneficiaries to ensure transparency, accountability and seamless process.

The commissioner, who described the scheme as one of the best social intervention programmes in the country, said N20,000 had been approved by the governor for 15, 289 people living with disabilities captured under the Special Grant Transfer (SGT) scheme.

He added that approval had also been given for the immediate payment of N7,500 stipend to 10,618 beneficiaries who were vulnerable youths captured under Public Workfare (PWF) programme.

The commissioner, who maintained that the administration in the state was committed to the people’s welfare, noted that the gesture would go a long way in transforming the lives of the beneficiaries.

Olayemi, however, said that the disbursement of the funds under the SGT and PWF, was different from the Federal Government’s Conditional Cash Transfer recently launched by the governor.

He added that the governor had also ordered the immediate release of the monthly and quarterly stipends to the beneficiaries as part of efforts to alleviate the effects of hardship that the people were going through due to the lockdown.

According to him, the gesture will  go a long way to promote the general well-being of the beneficiaries.

He said the scheme, which started in July 2019, was a partnership between the Osun  government and the World Bank.

“This is a collaboration between the state government and the World Bank designed to alleviate poverty, hunger and unemployment among the people in the state.

“We commenced the exercise in line with the governor’s directive to ensure that every beneficiary under the scheme gets paid,”  he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls  that  Oyetola on March 29 announced a total lock-down of the state  effective from midnight of March 31 to stop the spread of the coronavirus.(NAN)

The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said it’s first and second batch of economic stimulus package to cushion the effect of the lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic reached at least 200,000 households in the State.

He said this figure includes vulnerable persons, the elderly as well as persons with disabilities (PWDs).

State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu who disclosed this while briefing journalists on the update of COVID-19 pandemic, said it’s next target is to feed 100,000 youths daily, as part of the measures to cushion the effect of the extended lockdown.

“I am pleased today to announce additional palliatives for our citizens to further ameliorate the inconvenience occasioned by this extended lockdown.

“In the first instance, we will be rolling out measures. In the next couple of days, we will commence a daily “Food Kitchen” programme, which will see us aim to feed about 100,000 people daily.

“This will largely target youths.

“We are identifying local food vendors who will pilot this programme, and ensure that the process of cooking and serving of the meals adhere strictly to public health guidelines,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu also disclosed that the government is updating it’s data from the various social registers to get a clean list of truly vulnerable and economically challenged persons to enable it to remit some cash to them.

He said the state government intends to do cash transfers by the end of the week to a minimum of 250,000 indigent citizens.

The governor also explained that he has given an order to the Police, LASTMA and the VIO to release all impounded vehicles arrested for minor traffic offences from March 1, 2020 to date.

He said that this directive will take effect following the end of the lockdown.

“I am also pleased to announce that all the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) who have taken the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) loans and other government programme loans will enjoy a three months moratorium.

“This will further help to cushion the effect of the lack of economic activities occasioned by the lockdown.

“As you are also aware, we announced a medical palliative for all those that need to access medical care during this lockdown, as well as free childbirth services for expectant mothers.

“I am pleased to announce that over 18,000 people have accessed free medical services in line with this directive.

“We have recorded over 600 childbirths, all free of charge,” Sanwo-Olu said.

By Chris Agbo

The leadership of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWDs) Kaduna State chapter has appealed to the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai, for adequate inclusion of persons with disabilities in the ongoing distribution of relief materials to vulnerable. This is to ensure that more of their members benefit from the laudable initiative of the government.

According to the State Chairman, Abdullaziz Suleiman, “since the distribution commenced in the eight pilot local government areas, we have not been contacted or invited to be part of any committee that will ensure that our members adequately benefit”. He further stated that when they heard of the plan by the State government to distribute relief materials to vulnerable groups; their expectations were high because the State is in the process of establishment of Social Protection system which promises to leave no one behind.

However, they became worried when the process commenced and they were not involved with only a negligable number of their members benefitting. They directed their local government Chairmen to track the process and the feedback so far has not been encouraging to say the least, he stated. He concluded by saying that if Covid-19 pandemic does not kill them hunger will.

Also adding his voice, the State secretary of the association, Garba Abdullahi, recalled that during the Social Protection Policy town-hall meeting held at the State House, Kawo. Governor El-rufai mentioned that the Persons with Disabilities are going to be among the beneficiaries of the policy, but unfortunately they have not been included in any committee in charge of the distribution and just a few of their members benefitted only after they protested in some local governments.

According to him, “his Excellency should review the committees to include Persons with Disabilities which will give us a sense of belonging and ensure that more of our members benefit”.

On his part, the Head – Social Inclusion and Gender Equity of the Coalition of Associations for Leadership, Peace, Empowerment & Development (CALPED), Smith Waya, stated that “this is worrisome because if you are talking about vulnerable groups the first group that comes to mind are the PWDs”. He also highlighted that, “the Persons with Disabilities are the most coordinated and organized vulnerable group in the State, with structures in all the local governments”. He concluded by advising the State government to carry persons with disabilities along because they are organized, making it easy to reach out to them. Finally, he advocated that a percentage of the relief materials should be set aside for the persons with disabilities to ensure they are not overlooked in the distribution process.

The Kaduna State government recently earmarked 500 million naira for the procurement and distribution of relief materials to vulnerable groups in the State. The distribution of the relief materials has commenced in eight pilot local government areas of Chikun, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Igabi, Zaria, Sabon Gari, Jema’a and Kaura.