An organisation committed to disability rights, the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), has appealed to the government, security agencies, and other stakeholders to address challenges facing Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria.
The centre made the appeal during an advocacy visit and presentation of a project on awareness of civic space rights of PWDs to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oyo State Command, on Tuesday in Ibadan.
CCD Senior Programme Officer, Ms Florence Attah, said that PWDs’ rights, as guaranteed under Sections 39 and 40 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended), are facing persistent threats.
Attah listed the rights to include freedom of association, freedom of assembly, participation in shaping policies, the right to demand accountability, and the ability to contribute meaningfully to the development of their communities, among others.
“Peaceful protests are often disrupted, civil society actors are treated with suspicion, and laws meant to protect citizens are sometimes misused to silence voices.
“Persons with disabilities, due to existing vulnerabilities, face even greater risks, including harassment, intimidation, violence, and barriers to accessing justice,” she said.
The CCD senior programme officer said the NSCDC has a duty to protect the rights of all citizens, including PWDs, and urged the corps to become a true protector of civic rights.
Attah noted that PWDs are often less able to protect themselves during civic actions, resulting in institutional neglect where their rights are not prioritised.
“Communication barriers remain a major concern. For example, a deaf person participating in a protest may face harassment from security personnel yet have no access to a sign language interpreter.
“This limits their ability to communicate effectively,” she said.
According to her, the purpose of the advocacy visit was to create awareness of the challenges facing PWDs and to ensure that their civic space rights are protected.
Attah appealed to the NSCDC to publicly commit to protecting PWDs during civic actions and to ensure accessible processes, including sign language interpretation, assistive devices, supportive technologies, and physical access.
She further called on the corps to train its officers on civic rights and disability inclusion, create dedicated and safe reporting channels to address civic rights violations involving PWDs, and work with CCD to ensure effective implementation.
Also speaking, CCD Programme Officer, Mrs Christiana Njoku, said civic space rights are the foundation of inclusive governance.
According to Njoku, PWDs will remain vulnerable and voiceless without their civic space rights being protected.
In his response, NSCDC Commandant Augustine Padonu said PWDs need the support of security agencies and pledged the corps’ commitment to protecting their civic space rights.
“We will work on your challenges and ensure your civil rights are protected. Our doors are open if you have any complaints,” the commandant said.
