SAN backs Tinubu’s threat to shut down buildings over* non-compliance with PWDs Act

A senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Prof. Adeniyi Olatunbosun, has said the threat by President Bola Tinubu to shut down all public buildings found in breach of the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Act’s provision is in line with the law and international best practices.

President Tinubu had, during the 2023 commemoration of the International Day of Persons With Disabilities, in Abuja, stated that the Federal Government had concluded plans to set up a task force that would shut down all public buildings found in breach of the Act.

Speaking during the official foundation laying ceremony of the Senate Building of Kola Daisi University, held at the school premises in Ibadan, the state capital, Prof. Olatunbosun, who is the university’s Vice Chancellor, said the president’s warning is in compliance with the law.

The law professor said: “The president warning those that are constructing buildings without making provision for people with disabilities is the right step. There is a law on that, access to buildings by physically challenged people.

“Most of the projects being done always take into consideration the need to do that and it is also in compliance with international best practices of access to building and public utilities.

“It is just that many times when the law is put in place and there is no sanction, people do not want to comply with it. So, ordinarily in any modern building of this nature, if it has to be a public access building, they must make provisions for those who are physically challenged so that they will be able to access it”.

I believe that most of the stakeholders, government, parastatals and agencies, especially, the Town Planning Authority of the various states as well as the Federal Government will be able to ensure they make those that are building to comply with the law.

“It is the best way to go and I believe that it will also showcase that Nigeria is also complying with international best practices. So, it’s a welcome development and I believe every public utility will also capture that into consideration. In this project, it is part of what we are working on.”

Earlier, Chief Kola Daisi, the Founder of Kola Daisi University, said a former governor of the state, the late Abiola Ajimobi, used his office to fast-track the establishment of the university.

The chancellor said he had the ambition of setting up a private university for the past 30 to 40 years but owing to some circumstances surrounding the establishment of private universities, it didn’t work out until the advent of the administration of the late governor.

The Bashorun of Ibadanland said: “I remember that man called Isiaka Ajimobi; he was our governor then. May God continue to rest his soul. You know one needs about 250 hectares of land before a government will approve a university for anyone.

‘’So, I raised this in his presence when he was the governor and he said if he wasn’t involved in the project it might not be possible. So, there is no way we will talk about KDU without late Ajimobi’s involvement.”