Awka, Nigeria — The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has called for the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 (PIA) across the Niger Delta, including Anambra State.
The Acting Director of CCD, Godwin Unumeri, made the appeal on Thursday in Awka during a two-day workshop on the PIA organised by the centre with support from the Ford Foundation.
The workshop, themed “Ending Barriers Against Niger Deltans with Disabilities,” aimed to strengthen the capacity of PWDs to advocate for their inclusion in the Act’s benefit structures.
Unumeri said that despite provisions such as the Host Community Development Trusts under the PIA, PWDs remained largely excluded, describing the situation as a violation of their rights under national laws and international conventions.
He noted that Anambra’s emergence as an oil-producing state presents opportunities for increased revenue, infrastructure development and job creation, but also raises concerns about environmental degradation and the marginalisation of vulnerable groups.
“PWDs are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation resulting from oil exploration, yet they are not included in the PIA benefit framework,” he said.
According to him, the workshop was designed to equip participants with the knowledge and tools needed to demand inclusion in the implementation of the Act.
Also speaking, Blessing Ononogbu described disability as a long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which, when combined with societal barriers, limits full and equal participation.
She cited a 2018 World Bank estimate that about 29 million Nigerians live with one form of disability, noting that the figure continues to rise due to conflicts, accidents, violence and inadequate healthcare.
Ononogbu added that PWDs are among the most vulnerable groups affected by oil and gas exploration, with many losing their traditional livelihoods and requiring deliberate support to access essential services.
In her presentation, Florence Attah reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to promoting disability rights through advocacy and capacity building. She said CCD remained focused on empowering PWDs to demand inclusion in development policies, including the PIA framework.
In his remarks, Ugochukwu Okeke, Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Anambra Chapter, commended CCD for championing inclusive policies.
Okeke expressed optimism that participants would acquire the knowledge needed to effectively engage stakeholders and advocate for their inclusion in the implementation of the Act.
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