Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) has dismissed claims that government’s support for persons with disabilities (PWDs) is merely symbolic, stating that its interventions are structured to ensure fairness, accountability and wide-reaching impact.

General Manager of the agency, Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, said LASODA, which has been in existence for nearly 15 years, “remains committed to safeguarding the rights of PWDs and promoting their full participation in the social and economic life of Lagos State.”

She explained that while some individuals feel excluded from government programmes, such perceptions often stem from a lack of awareness about how beneficiaries are selected.

According to her, the agency works mainly through recognised disability clusters across the state, which serve as the primary channels for disseminating information and selecting beneficiaries for various programmes and partnerships.

“Most of our opportunities are shared through cluster heads. We also ensure that beneficiaries are not repeated within the same year or even across consecutive years, so that scarce resources can reach as many people as possible,” she said.

Oyetunde-Lawal noted that LASODA cannot realistically reach every individual with a disability in a state as large as Lagos, stressing that belonging to a cluster enhances access to information and support.

She added that the agency is currently improving its digital platforms to strengthen public engagement but warned that opening all opportunities without structure could overwhelm the system.

“If everything is thrown open without a framework, it will create chaos. The cluster system remains the most effective way to ensure order and fairness,” she said.

The LASODA boss urged persons with disabilities who are not part of any organised group to seek out relevant communities, noting that shared networks remain the fastest way to benefit from collaborations between LASODA and other government bodies such as the Lagos State Trust Fund and relevant ministries.

She maintained that genuine inclusion goes beyond rhetoric, adding that structured participation and community engagement are key to ensuring that disability support in Lagos delivers real impac