Kaduna promises to implement disability law

The Kaduna government has promised to implement the Disability Act in a bid to improve the lives of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the state.

Zubairu Muktar, special adviser on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to Uba Sani, governor of the state, said the act would help remove barriers in accessing services in the public and private sectors.

Muktar spoke in Zaria, at the end of a strategic roundtable discussion, and orientation of media houses on disability reporting.

The act was passed and signed by Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of the state, in October 2021.

The programme was organised by Lafia Project in collaboration with SightSavers International.

The aide, who expressed displeasure over the non-implementation of the act, said he will meet with the governor within the week on the subject.

Monday Okwoli, disability inclusion adviser for Sightsavers, commended Sani for the initiative.

“This category of people with such a huge number cannot be relegated. Many of them lack access to public services such as education, health, empowerment and security programmes among others,” Okwoli said.

Rakiya Umar, executive secretary of Kaduna State Disability Affairs Board, commended the organisers of the programme. She said the workshop was educative and informative.

She said implementation of the act will reduce challenges faced by PWDs because it will improve access to empowerment from different centres.

“By implication, some of the people with disabilities who are on the streets would be rehabilitated,” she said.