The National Commission For Persons With Disabilities(NCPWD) has urged the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike to consider allocation of shops to displaced traders with disabilities.
The Executive Secretary Of NCPWD, James David Lalu made this call in a press conference organized to solicit support for this group who have been going through a lot since they were driven out of the street where they are doing their legitimate business.
Mr. Lalu while receiving leadership of Self-Reliance for Physically Challenged Traders Association of Nigeria (SPCTAN) led by their Chairman, Mr Munnir Shehu in Abuja, assured the group that NCPWD will collaborate with Federal Capital Territory Administration to find a solution to their challenges so that they will continue to carry out their legitimate business as law abiding citizens of Nigeria.
“I commend you for being law abiding while in pursuing their businesses”.
He commended the group for having faith on the Commission and not resorting to self help and assured them of government unwavering support in their journey of livelihood.
He commended the members of the group for never finding excuses for your own disability and carry out legitimate business.
“That is to say, there is ability in disability” he added.
“He assured them that the complain they brought will be presented to the Minister of FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike and something will be done.
Earlier, Mr. Munnir Shehu, the Chairman presented the names of not fewer than 293 members doing legitimate businesses in the street of FCT.
Speaking through his Secretary, Idris Yahaya, Shehu appealed to the FCTA to allocate shops for their members in all the markets across FCT to enable them do their businesses decently.
He said that the appeal is necessary in order to take them off the streets and avoid further harassment and confrontation with the members of the environmental joint taskforce.
“We have been put out of business for the past three to four weeks now, we don’t go to our business places”.
“Because we get to know that this is very serious when ‘FCTA Environmental Taskforce start arresting our members, they took one of our members to SARS and we went to bail him”.
“It is affecting us so much because we can’t take care of our needs and that of our families, we don’t want to engage in street begging.
“We are doing our legitimate business, you can see us around Berger Junction, Bannex Plaza and other places doing our legitimate business”.
“We earn between N500 to N1,000 profit daily which we use to sustain ourselves” he said.
He complained that they were displaced without alternative arrangement and it has brought untold hardship to majority of their members.
You will recall that Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) recently started enforcement of Zero Street Trading Policy in FCT. An exercise that came into full force when the new FCT Minister, Nyesome Wike assumed office. Unfortunately, the policy has led to displacement of over 293 traders with disabilities around FCT who have been doing legitimate business on the streets of FCT to make ends meet.
