The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), in partnership with the Ford Foundation, has urged the Anambra State Government to fully implement the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, to guarantee the rights and inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Mr. David Anyaele, Executive Director of CCD and Chairman of the Abia State Disability Commission, made the call at a three-day workshop in Awka themed “Ending Barriers Against Niger-Deltans with Disabilities.”
The workshop sought to advance the participation of PWDs in governance and development, particularly in oil-producing states and host communities.
Anyaele lamented Nigeria’s slow progress on disability rights, stressing that, “In Nigeria, we are 50 years behind when it comes to disability rights, and the world is moving fast. It’s time we provoke hunger for knowledge, awareness and action. The full implementation of the Disability Act in the country, including Anambra, will protect the rights of PWDs. But knowing your rights as PWDs is the first step toward empowerment.”
He called on PWDs to actively participate in community and political processes, including village meetings, constitutional reviews, and developmental projects.
Highlighting the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2022, Anyaele decried the exclusion of PWDs in governance structures and host community consultations, insisting that oil companies and host communities must involve PWDs in needs assessments, advisory boards, and project implementation.
He further warned that oil exploration disproportionately affects PWDs and called for inclusive infrastructure such as accessible markets and public toilets.
Anyaele also urged the Anambra State Government, led by Gov. Charles Soludo, to fast-track disability-related legislation to align interventions with inclusive best practices.
“We are not merely asking the House of Assembly to pass laws. We are demanding that host communities and oil firms ensure no one—especially PWDs—is left behind in the development equation,” he said.
He reminded participants that the Disability Act prescribes stiff penalties for violators—₦100,000 for individuals and up to ₦2 million or six months’ imprisonment for public officials guilty of discrimination.
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“Discrimination is so normalised in Nigeria that people do not even recognise it anymore. We must challenge that,” he emphasised.
In his remarks, Mr. Ugochukwu Okeke, Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Anambra State, commended CCD for championing disability rights and urged governments at all levels to deepen disability-inclusive development.
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