35m people living with disabilities in Nigeria, says NCPWD

James Lalu, executive secretary of the National Commission for Persons With Disabilities (NCPWD), says there are 35.1 million persons currently living with disabilities in Nigeria.

Lalu spoke on Friday in Imo state at a one-day programme for the issuance of permanent certificates to persons living with disabilities in the south-east.

The executive secretary, who was represented by Ikem Uchegbulam, acting director of compliance and enforcement of the commission, said the programme was to sensitise PWDs on the benefits of the certification.

He said the exercise was in line with Section 28 of the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities Act.

He said PWDs can obtain a permanent certificate from the commission, while temporary certifications for those unable to use a body part are issued by medical doctors.

“In addition to acting as a means of identification, the act has made the certificate a legal requirement for obtaining remedy from the law court, hence the need for possession of the certificate,” he said.

“A recent WHO report estimates that about 35.1 million persons have disabilities in Nigeria, so, the commission is doing its best to ensure that they have access to all their rights as enshrined in the constitution.”

Lalu said only PWDs with valid certificates can receive and seek treatments as stated in the disability act.

He urged all Nigerians living with a disability to obtain the certificates to fully access its benefits.

In October, President Bola Tinubu signed the instrument for the ratification of the protocol to the African Union (AU) charter to promote the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria.