Coalition of Disability Organisations have expressed dismay over inaccessible airports in Nigeria.
The position of the coalition was contained in the executive summary of their findings from an empirical study on the Accessibility of Nigerian Airports To Persons With Disabilities.
The coalition comprising the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities(CCD), Hope Alive for Possibilities Initiative (HAPI) and the Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria (SCIAN) made the presentation of the comprehensive to stakeholders on Tuesday 18th April 2023 in Abuja.
It is part of activities of the coalition’s project being funded by Disability Rights Fund (DRF). The project started in 2021 to address myriad of challenges faced by PWDs traveling by air.
Some of these challenges faced by PWDs at the airports are inadequate facilities and infrastructure, communication barriers resulting from non-provision of information in accessible formats, to poor attitudes of airport and airline officials.
According to Matepo Abdulwahab, President of SCIAN who presented the report, the study was conducted in six states (one from each geopolitical zone of the federation) and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The study locations were: Enugu, Gombe, Kano, Lagos, Plateau states, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
He pointed that the objectives of the study are: 1. To evaluate how accessible Nigerian airports, infrastructure and facilities are to persons with disabilities. 2. To assess the level of compliance of airports, airlines and other airports operators to the provisions of the National Disability Act, with particular reference to airports’ infrastructure, facilities and services. 3. To gauge the level of satisfaction with airports and airline operators among PWDs.
He stated the study showed that more than three-quarters of the respondents had travelled by air in Nigeria, while less than one-quarters said they had never travelled by air in Nigeria. The majority of the PWD respondents who had not been travelling by air in Nigeria said they would have loved to travel by air in Nigeria. This gives an idea about the prospects of air travel by PWDs if the conditions are good.
The study found that less than one-fifth of the PWD respondents said it was easy for them to use the airports during their most recent air travel in Nigeria, while the largest proportion said it was “just okay” for them to use the airports. Many others said it was difficult for them to use the airports.
The inference from the result of the survey was that the experiences of PWD air travellers varied, with a few having good experiences and some others going through difficult experiences. In this regard, it may be expected that the experiences of PWDs will vary in line with the nature of their physical disabilities. The variation may also be about differences in facilities and provisions from one airport to another, as well as differences in the attitude and behaviour of different airport and airline staff as noted also by Waheed.
Some of the PWD respondents reported encountering a myriad of challenges in using the airports, including difficulty in getting on the aircraft; difficulty in climbing the stairs into the airport building due to lack of/non-functioning elevators and ramps; communication barriers; absence of sign language communications; absence of disability desks at the airports; poor direction at the airports for PWDs; denied boarding; discrimination/lack of care by other travellers, among others.
More than half of the PWD respondents said ramps were available at airports for wheelchair users, while one-third said ramps were not available. The rest said they did not know.
The study recorded a total absence of sign language interpreters at the airports covered by this study. Furthermore, less than one-tenth of the PWD respondents said there were braille notices and guides at the airports, while the majority said there were no braille notices and guides at the airports.
The majority of the PWD respondents said there was no priority access and boarding for PWDs at the airports, while some others said there was priority access and boarding for PWDs. Disability desks were said to be absent at all the airports.
For example, public buses may not have ramps or lifts for wheelchair users, and taxis may not be accessible for individuals with mobility impairments. Additionally, there may be a lack of designated parking spaces for persons with disabilities, and sidewalks or pedestrian pathways may not be designed to cater to the needs of individuals with visual impairments.
It is worth noting that Nigeria has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which calls for the promotion of accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities in all areas of life, including transportation. However, the implementation and enforcement of accessibility measures in the transport system may vary across different regions and cities in Nigeria.
Efforts have been made by some advocacy groups and organisations to raise awareness and advocate for improved accessibility in transportation for persons with disabilities in Nigeria. However, there may still be gaps in terms of full accessibility and inclusiveness in the transport system.
If you are a person with a disability in Nigeria and require transportation, it is recommended that you plan ahead and research available options, including private transportation providers or specialised services for persons with disabilities, and communicate any specific needs or requirements in advance to ensure a safe and smooth travel experience.
Earlier, The Executive Director, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, David Anyaele, said that the coalition is concern that access to airport is still a challenge to PWDs in Nigeria.
Even though, air travel is the safety means of transportation in Nigeria today, PWDs still find it difficult to access the services.
He said that it was in view of these challenges that the coalition secured support from Disability Rights Fund to engage policy makers, stakeholders in aviation to share ideas and find solutions to the lingering challenges at the airports for PWDs.
Appreciating the existence of disability law, the aviation industry should be abreast with the law and apply it to ensure access to airport by PWDs.
He also said that the project which has lasted for two years, sensitization of stakeholders in the geo-political zones is another component of the project. It is about working with aviation stakeholders to find solutions to address the challenges faced by air travelers with disabilities.
He urged the aviation stakeholders at the sensitization meeting to see disability issues as everybody’s business because nobody is immune from disability.
“If it doesn’t come now, it will surely come at old age. So, as you are working with PWDs, you are equally working for yourself” he added.
People with disabilities believe the Nigerian system is skewed against them. It is their argument that they are not taken into consideration whenever decisions are taken. This is in no way different in the transport sector. For instance, provisions are not often made for people using wheelchairs during road or pedestal bridge construction. Using public transport often poses challenges to the blind and other persons with disability in the country because what they do to board buses, train, plane, etc., are lacking.
Although the country generally has a huge infrastructure deficit. Bad roads are common sights in Nigeria. It is even worse for the physically challenged members of society because the few available infrastructures are often not suitable for their use.
Most public transport vehicles in Nigeria are not designed to accommodate persons with disabilities, and the infrastructure in transport terminals, such as bus parks and train stations, are not disability-friendly. For instance, most buses and taxis in Nigeria do not have wheelchair ramps or lifts, making it impossible for persons with mobility impairments to board the vehicles. Additionally, most public transport vehicles do not have designated spaces for persons with disabilities, making it difficult for them to travel comfortably.
Similarly, the infrastructure in transport terminals, such as bus parks and train stations, is not disability-friendly. Most bus parks and train stations in Nigeria lack wheelchair ramps, elevators, or tactile paving, making it challenging for persons with disabilities to move around the terminals. Furthermore, the lack of accessible toilets in transport terminals makes it difficult for persons with disabilities to use the facilities.
Another significant challenge facing persons with disabilities in Nigeria is the lack of awareness among transport operators and the public. Most transport operators in Nigeria are not aware of the needs of persons with disabilities, and therefore, do not make any effort to accommodate them. For instance, most bus drivers and conductors in the country do not know how to assist persons with disabilities to board.
Although the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations and the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 requires airport and airline operators to provide facilities to aid the movement of persons with disabilities and ensure that no passenger is discriminated against on the basis of their disabilities, the enforcement of this law has been lacking. No airline has been penalised for failing to provide facilities to aid the movement of persons with disabilities as required by the law.
The meeting was attended by FAAN, NCAA, DANA AIR, United Nigeria Airline, NAHCO, NSCDC, OPDs and MDAs such as Ministry of Aviation.
