Persons With Disabilities Seek Access To Airport Facilities 

The Coalition of Disability Organisations has called on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure that airport facilities are made accessible to persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The Convener of the Coalition/Executive Director, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities,Mr David Anyaele, made the call in in Kano, when the group paid an advocacy visit to the Commissioner for Justice, Mr Musa Lawan.
Represented by the outgoing Chairman of Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria, Kano State Chapter, Mr Abdul Haruna, he said the call became necessary following the outcome of the group’s research on the challenges their members were facing at airports in the country.
“We are facing difficulty in boarding the aircraft, climbing the stairs of airport buildings due to the lack of or non-functional elevators and ramps.
“Communication barriers, absence of sign language interpreters, lack of Disability Desk at airports, lack of dedicated seats for PWDs, among others,” Anyaele said.
According to him, the research came up with recommendations for the relevant authorities to take note of.
He further explained that the visit was meant to sensitise the relevant authorities on the need to change the narrative.
Responding, the Commissioner expressed delight over the visit by the group.
“People living with disabilities have been neglected seriously for long. We must work together with the relevant authorities to do the needful for the betterment of this category of people”, he said.
He assured the group of his support toward addressing the challenges faced by its members, promising to send a memo to the Governor on their behalf in order to elicit the attention of relevant agencies.
A member of the group, Abba Shehu, a deaf, who spoke through an interpreter, recalled how he missed his flight due to the lack of an interpreter at the airport.