Stakeholders have called for an end to the misclassification of wheelchairs as luggage by transport operators.
They stated this during a stakeholders’ meeting and webinar organized by the Centre for Disability and Inclusion Africa.
The webinar, which was convened with the theme: ‘Wheelchair Not Luggage,’ had in attendance government officials, disability rights organizations, media representatives, and wheelchair users.
The forum provided an avenue for participants to discuss challenges faced by persons with physical disabilities, especially those who rely on wheelchairs for mobility.
According to a communique issued at the end of the event, the stakeholders called for policy reforms and legal enforcement of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act (2018).
They also called for increased political will and funding to ensure inclusion at all levels.
During the event, the stakeholders outlined the various challenges encountered by wheelchair users in Nigeria, among which include discrimination, restricted mobility, and lack of accessibility in public and private spaces.
The stakeholders stressed that wheelchair users should not have to fight for basic access to transportation and public spaces given that mobility is a fundamental right.
Furthermore, they also advocated for continuous advocacy, public sensitization, and policy changes that will prioritize accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
At the end of the meeting, the stakeholders called for increased commitment to achieving systematic changes which will allow wheelchair users in Nigeria to move freely, independently, and with dignity.
Other recommendations contained in the communique include calls for the provision of reasonable accommodations for wheelchair users, strict compliance with accessibility standards by government and nongovernmental organizations, as well as training of transport service providers on disability inclusion.
