TQM report,
The former All Progressive Congress (APC) leader of Persons with disabilities who represented Persons with disabilities at the National Working Committee on APC during the leadership of Adams Oshiomhole , Misbahu Lawal Didi and Abubakar Sharlu, 1st Vice Chairman, Joint National Association of Persons with disabilities (JONAPWD) FCT Chapter and the Chairman, National Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities (NAPWPD) FCT Chapter were on a trip to Kaduna from Abuja and they took the Idu Train Station Terminal and the experiences and findings are far cry from what persons with disabilities should be experiencing in a modern day railway terminal and even at the trains.
From the video and voice message that accompanied it that Misbahu posted on his facebook account, the terminals were built without considering the accessibility of persons with disabilities.
He said that it was very challenging accessing the station and the entrance of the train is narrow and it has stairs so persons with disabilities are struggling to access it.
“It was difficult for me to access the door of the train, as a person with disability, you have to struggle to access the door, it is narrow and some persons with disabilities would require someone to carry them before they can access the train, if some of us who are popular would go through these challenges, what would become of a person with disability who may not have opportunity of some privileges, I can imagine what such a person will face in the train station” Misbahu said.
He reminded the authorities in charge to abide by the National Disability act and do the right thing, he also called on Minister of Transport to look into the activities of the railway officials in the ticketing department because it was stated online that there is discount for persons with disabilities but at the ticketing in the railway stations, no discount for persons with disabilities, they are charge the same with others. He pleaded with the Minister of Transport, Hon. Rotimi Amechi to address the issue.
In the video, Misbahu posted in his facebook account(Misbahu Lawan Didi) with a write up “Is the train all inclusive for Nigerians, Please join me to advise the Federal Ministry of Transport, CCECC, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and indeed all the management and stakeholders in the transport sector to make train accessible and to also start implementing/continue selling the special needs ticketing for people with disabilities under special arrangement”, you will see Misbahu and Abubakar struggling to climb more than hundred stairs to the train and they have to struggle also to access the train itself.
TQM is adding its voice to that of these leaders with disabilities to urge the authorities to begin the modifications immediately because it is a sector that persons with disabilities can not withstand exclusion, they should know that the five years transitory period in the Nigeria Disability Act is less than three years, it would be unfortunate for NRC to wait and face litigation before carrying out these modifications, a stitch in time saves nine.
