On September 22, 2022, a non-governmental research organization, Africa Polling Institute (API), expatiated on reasons why domesticating Disability Act is vital to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria. Given that it has the ability to provide speedy solutions to the various problems confronting the wellbeing of people with disabilities across the country. The organization emphasizes on the effectiveness of the domestication of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability Act (2018) to the seamless achievement of the SDGs.
During the launch of the ‘National Disability Data in Nigeria Report’ which was held in Abuja, API stated that the report is essential to the Nigeria Disability Research Project, carried out by API in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and supported by Ford Foundation; it is a project that was organized for the development of a reservoir of Data of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria. Lack of Data for PWDs was also highlighted to be a negative factor contributing to the challenges faced by these set of Nigerians.
The API, with grant from Ford Foundation visited the disabled community.
The Acting Executive Director of API, Dr. Olugbenga Ogunmefun stressed the urgency for the Federal Government and the Private Sector to begin the enhancement of functionality and productivity of Nigerians living with disabilities whose potential had been undermined and neglected. However, there would be a drastic change of the narrative if an intentional effort is made towards domesticating the Act in all states of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Prior to the launch of the report, steps have been taken towards the gathering of data.
The API, in 2021, had a grant from the Ford Foundation to visit the disabled community for the purpose of gathering data and conducting action research. These steps, which were taken in regard to the domestication of the Disability Act signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, birthed four reports at the end of the exercise. The first report centered on the Action Research which is related to the reasons why states have refused to domesticate the Act and the challenges and differences in its application.
Only 13 states in the country have domesticated the Act.
The second report has ties with sexual and gender-based violence and violence against persons living with disabilities; the third report has to do with the integration of indicators into the national survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics with about 56,000 sample size; the fourth and last report is the formulated tool by the API lead consultant to be used within public and private sectors for the enablement of the inclusion of persons living with disabilities.
The Action Research revealed that as at the time of the research, some states lacked political will to domesticate the Act, which left them with 13 states of the 36 states in the country that have domesticated the Act. It was also discovered that there are constraints on the path of disabled Nigerians. However, the recently developed tool will help MDAs and private institutions to ensure inclusiveness for Nigerians living with disabilities. The Deputy Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University, Prof. Elias Wahab stressed the need for the promotion of an inclusive society, given that about five of the SDGs pertain to persons with disabilities.
There should be constant awareness and sensitization programs of PWDs.
In addition, the provision of access to equal education, science and innovation, good employment and quality way of life for every Nigerian, regardless of any form of disability, will be of great benefits to Nigerians. The government is therefore advised to ensure states domesticate the Act and implement it to establish the rights in place of people with disabilities. A Consultant to API, Dr. Israel Balogun, also raised alarm concerning constant awareness and sensitization programs, publicizing the conditions and barriers of PWDs for Nigerians to respect and provide them with a sense of belonging.
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Given that it is able to provide prompt solutions to the numerous issues affecting the health and wellness of individuals with disabilities all around the country, it is an extremely useful resource.
Given its quick problem-solving potential, it could be a game-changer for the health and independence of Nigerians with disabilities and that’s good
The government should back this project that aims to compile information on disabled people throughout the country.
The potential of Nigerians with disabilities have been undervalued and ignored, it can be realized if the Federal Government and the Private Sector work together to improve their functionality and production.
Investigating the barriers to and variations in implementation of the Act across states is an area ripe for research and it should be carried out
It is imperative that this country put an end to acts of aggression against people based on their gender as well as those who are unable to live independently due to a disability.
Continuous awareness and sensitization initiatives, publicizing the situations and limitations that people with disabilities face in order to encourage Nigerians to respect them and give them a sense of belonging in the country.
The domestication of the Disability Act will be beneficial to people with disabilities. A lot of them have been discriminated against. The victimization won’t stop until we give them constitutional protection. Thus, we should domesticate the Act into our laws
This disabilities are also human they should not be discriminated this domestication of disability act will help the disabilities and protects them because they are disable they should not be ignore bt also be allow to participate and have job
Some urgency need to be done to the law as it is done in the developed countries of the world because the people living with disability are really going through alot which make them vulnerable to different problems.
The domestication of the disability act is really essential. People living with disabilities are vulnerable to victimization, violence, and all that. So, they need to be protected by the law. Hence, the need to domesticate the disability act.
Aggression against persons based on their gender and against those unable to live freely due to a disability must stop immediately in this nation. People shouldn’t be adding to their difficulties because of their impairment.
The domestication of the Disability Act will be beneficial to people with disabilities.They should be protected, not ignored. Constant awareness and sensitization programs, publicizing the conditions and barriers of PWDs will go a long way.
Other states should enact the law so the disabled will also benefits from largesse of the government, kudos to the Ford foundation for the intervention of their funds towards the disabled.
Very good, this act will benefit those disability around, giving them Hope and support will help them to feel among in the society.
This country must quickly put an end to violence against people because of their gender or because they are disabled and cannot live freely. Disabled people shouldn’t make things more difficult for themselves.
In order to urge Nigerians to respect them and give them a sense of belonging in the nation, ongoing awareness-raising and sensitization campaigns that make public the circumstances and constraints that individuals with disabilities confront are necessary.
The Federal Government and the Private Sector can collaborate to increase the usefulness and productivity of Nigerians with disabilities, who have hitherto had their potential undervalued and overlooked.
The Federal Government and the Private Sector can collaborate to increase the usefulness and productivity of Nigerians with disabilities, who have hitherto had their potential undervalued and overlooked.
There is ability in disability the Disability Acts should be domesticated in all the state of the federation to be able to solve the problems associated with PWDs to help Nigerian achieve the SDGs.
Gender violence and discrimination against disability within a nation is unacceptable. These people a humans and belong to a country called Nigeria. They should be given equal privileged as other. They’re also as skillful as others.