The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening sustainable and inclusive family planning services for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) to ensure equitable access to reproductive health initiatives nationwide.
The assurance was given on Thursday in Abuja at the close-out ceremony of the five-year Inclusive Family Planning (IFPLAN) project.
Funded by UK Aid, the IFPLAN project was implemented by a consortium led by Sightsavers, alongside BBC Media Action, the Programme for Evidence to Inform Disability Action, the Network of Women with Disabilities, and the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities.
The initiative aimed to increase knowledge and uptake of family planning among PWDs while strengthening service providers and disability organizations to enhance inclusion in the health system.
Over its implementation period, the project reached 1,912 persons with disabilities in 18 communities with social and behaviour-change interventions. It also provided family planning information to 544,759 PWDs through radio, digital platforms and community outreach.
Additionally, more than three million PWDs received stigma-reduction messages; 24 health facilities underwent accessibility audits; 23 facilities received accessibility upgrades; and 1,500 healthcare providers were trained, among other achievements.
Dr Salma Ibrahim-Anas, Special Adviser to the President on Health, described IFPLAN as a model for disability inclusion and a key contributor to the Federal Government’s Renewed Health Agenda. Represented by Dr Fatima Jibrilla, she praised the implementing partners for demonstrating the power of inclusive development.
“The success of the IFPLAN project is not just a technical milestone; it is proof of inclusive development and a strong example of what we can achieve when we commit to leaving no one behind,” she said.
She said the Renewed Health Agenda prioritizes the well-being of women and girls, recognizing family planning as a key pillar of national development.
“We must actively expand coverage to meet all contraceptive needs, regardless of socioeconomic or ability status. IFPLAN has offered invaluable lessons, proving that inclusive and tailored approaches are essential,” she said.
Ibrahim-Anas stressed the need to dismantle physical, attitudinal and communication barriers that hinder PWDs from accessing essential services. She highlighted Kaduna State’s success in improving access through targeted training and accessible information.
She also urged that sustainability plans be fully implemented to ensure long-term adoption of the project’s best practices nationwide.
Prof. Joy Shuaibu, Country Director of Sightsavers Nigeria, said the project demonstrated that intentional inclusion leads to real impact for women and girls with disabilities.
“Empowering healthcare workers with knowledge is one of the most sustainable investments. It equips them for life,” she said, adding that future efforts must institutionalize disability inclusion in health policies.
Mohammed Isa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities—represented by Lanre Oloyede—described IFPLAN as a transformational intervention that expanded reproductive health access for women and girls with disabilities in Kaduna State.
He called for stronger government coordination in future disability-focused programmes and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s readiness to deepen collaboration with development partners.
“Let us continue working toward a Nigeria where no woman, girl, or person with a disability is denied the right to make informed choices about their body and future,” he said.
Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Umma Ahmed, said the project had brought hope and progress to families by ensuring equitable access to family planning services.
She noted that Kaduna had sustained a 15 per cent health sector budget allocation and made provisions in the 2026 budget to continue the initiative.
“For us, there is no close-out. This project will continue. Our commitment is to ensure that disability inclusion remains central to health service delivery,” she said.
Ahmed added that strengthening family planning contributes to reducing maternal mortality and empowering families, while advancing progress toward Universal Health Coverage.
