By Joseph Jegede
On January 23, 2019, Nigeria took a historic step toward promoting inclusivity and equal rights for its citizens living with disabilities when former President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act.
The law promised a five-year transitional period, after which all public buildings, roads, and transportation systems were to be fully accessible to people with disabilities (PWDs). That deadline has since come and gone—January 2024 has long passed—but the promise of accessibility remains largely unfulfilled.
The law envisioned a future where ramps, elevators, tactile walkways, and other accessibility aids would be in place to ensure PWDs could move freely and independently. Unfortunately, as we now find ourselves in September 2024, the physical environment in Nigeria remains overwhelmingly inaccessible for its estimated 29 million citizens living with disabilities.
Public buildings, such as government offices, banks, hospitals, and even schools, remain largely unchanged. Many lack ramps, elevators, or other necessary infrastructure to accommodate those with mobility challenges. For individuals using wheelchairs or living with visual impairments, this creates an environment where daily tasks become near impossible. Simply entering a building, accessing a service, or navigating a road can be a humiliating and frustrating experience.
Despite the passage of time, public and private properties across Nigeria have done little to comply with the law’s accessibility mandates. For many PWDs, the broken promises of accessibility are felt on a deeply personal level and many people living with disabilities continue to suffer the pangs to enter public offices or banks without relying on others for assistance. The frustration of arriving at a hospital only to find that the facility had no ramp, and public transportation that lacked spaces for wheelchair. These experiences reveal the reality faced by PWDs and highlight how the nation’s infrastructure continues to fail them.
The law clearly stipulates that public buildings must be constructed or adapted to include accessibility aids such as ramps, lifts, and tactile walkways. Additionally, roads and public spaces should have accommodations for wheelchair users and the visually impaired.
However, enforcement of these provisions has been weak at best, with minimal consequences for non-compliance. The law, while groundbreaking lacks the necessary penalties to ensure its full execution. As a result, most organizations and public institutions have continued to overlook these obligation regarding infrastructure.
The time has come for Nigeria to take meaningful steps in addressing the challenges that PWDs face. With the transitional period having ended in January 2024, the enforcement of the Disability Act must begin in earnest. The government needs to show a firm commitment to inclusivity by holding non-compliant institutions accountable and introducing punitive measures for those who fail to provide accessible infrastructure. Without rigorous enforcement, the law’s provisions will remain merely symbolic, leaving millions of Nigerians shut out from full participation in society.
Moreover, beyond enforcement, there is an urgent need for widespread awareness campaigns. Many private institutions and even some government agencies remain unaware of their responsibilities under the law. Civil society organizations, government bodies, and the media must lead rigorous awareness initiatives to educate the public and private sectors about the rights of PWDs and the need for accessible infrastructure. This effort should involve training for architects, city planners, and builders to ensure that new developments meet the required standards for inclusivity. Awareness campaigns must also challenge the general public’s attitudes toward disability, fostering a culture of respect and equality.
Infrastructure is more than just physical structures—it reflects the values of a society. When PWDs are unable to access buildings or navigate public spaces, they are excluded from contributing to the social, economic, and political life of the nation. As Nigeria looks toward the future, the inclusion of PWDs in its infrastructure plans is not just a legal obligation but a moral one. Creating accessible public and private spaces is a basic requirement for a nation that seeks to uphold the dignity and rights of all its citizens.
As enforcement of the Disability Act begins, it is crucial that the government, private sector, and society at large work together to build an environment where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can thrive. The time for action is long overdue.
The opportunity to make good on the promises of January 2019 still exists, but it requires immediate, concerted effort. Nigeria must show that it is serious about building an inclusive society where the infrastructure truly serves all its people.