NCPWD partners NCAA to improve accessibility for PWDs at airports

The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have agreed to work together to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities (PWDs) at the nation’s airports.

The understanding for collaboration was reached during a visit by the management of NCPWD to the NCAA office in Abuja on Thursday.

James Lalu, executive secretary of NCPWD, accused some airlines of perpetrating discriminatory acts against people with disabilities (PWDs).

“You can imagine the case of Rano Air, where the staff of the organisation claimed that the airline policy does not support persons with reduced mobility to board without aid,” he said.

He said there is a need to formulate a “standard operating procedure (SOP),” which would improve air travel activities such as flight booking for PWDs.

Lalu added that NCPWD would collaborate with relevant stakeholders to boost the capacity of aviation workers.

He said the commission is ready to start a pilot phase of disability desk officers who will attend to PWDs who use airport facilities.

Chris Najomo, the acting director-general (DG) of the NCAA, said the agency is aware of discriminatory practices against PWDs.

Najomo assured that appropriate steps would be taken to address such practices.

“I must inform you all that it is a new dawn at the NCAA, and those discriminatory actions are totally unacceptable,” he said.