The rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria face significant challenges, with widespread abuse and inadequate efforts to address them.
The Wheelchair Not Luggage webinar, held on Friday, January 31, 2025, brought together government officials, organizations of persons with disabilities, media representatives, and wheelchair users.
The focus was on addressing mobility challenges faced by wheelchair users, combating misinformation, and advocating for accessibility in Nigeria’s transport system.
Objectives
The primary goals of the meeting were to:
Promote the right to freedom of movement for wheelchair users.
Challenge the misconception that a wheelchair is luggage instead of a mobility aid.
Highlight challenges wheelchair users face and propose solutions for improved accessibility.
Key Resolutions
1. Wheelchairs Are Mobility Aids, Not Luggage
Wheelchairs are essential mobility aids, not luggage. Transport operators must acknowledge this and ensure proper accommodations for wheelchair users in their service delivery.
2. Independence and Equal Opportunities
Wheelchairs provide users with independence, confidence, and participation in society. Access to mobility aids enables wheelchair users to work, study, and engage in leadership roles.
3. Accessibility in Public and Private Facilities
The accessibility of physical spaces is fundamental to an inclusive society. Both public and private infrastructures must adhere to universal design standards.
4. Mobility Challenges: Upstream and Downstream Issues
Upstream challenges include manufacturing and design flaws affecting wheelchair comfort and usability.
Downstream challenges stem from non-compliance with accessibility laws and a lack of universal design in public spaces.
5. Legal Framework: The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018
The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 (DAPDA) recognizes wheelchair use as a right, mandating equal accessibility and inclusion.
6. Organized Advocacy and Engagement
Wheelchair users must unite to engage with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Transportation and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), to drive policy change.
7. Public Sensitization and Awareness
Continuous public education and advocacy campaigns are crucial for changing societal attitudes and ensuring transport operators understand the needs of wheelchair users.
8. Policy Change for Inclusive Infrastructure
Stakeholders must push for policies that prioritize accessibility, universal design, and proper enforcement of disability-friendly transport regulations.
9. Training for Transport Operators
Transport service providers need specialized training on disability inclusion to enhance their service delivery and foster empathy.
10. Government Commitment and Funding
Political will and financial investment are essential for mainstreaming disability inclusion and ensuring accessible public transport.
11. Stakeholder Engagement in Public Transportation
Public transportation decision-makers must be active participants in disability inclusion discussions to create lasting change.
12. Cultural and Linguistic Sensitization
Advocacy materials should be translated into local languages, and behavioral change materials should be utilized to educate transport operators and the public.
Stakeholders at the Wheelchair Not Luggage webinar emphasized that wheelchair accessibility is a fundamental right, not a privilege.
To achieve an inclusive transport system, continued advocacy, policy reforms, and public awareness campaigns are necessary.
