The Centre for Infrastructural and Technological Advancement for the Blind (CITAB) has accused Nigerian banks of discriminating against visually impaired persons in the country.

The Executive Director of CITAB, Jolomi Fenemigho, issued a press release in Lagos urging the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) to urgently address the situation.

Fenemigho described it as unjustified and a serious infringement on their right to access banking services.

He criticised the discriminatory practice among banks, which deny visually impaired individuals access to ATM cards and require them to fill out an indemnity form, describing this attitude as an affront to all visually impaired people in Nigeria.

“In this situation, I can’t help but question the glaring disparity between a visually impaired individual and an illiterate person trying to open an account or obtain an ATM card,” he said.

“Illiterate individuals manage to open accounts and receive ATM cards, often relying on third parties for transactions just like some visually impaired individuals, without facing any bureaucratic bottleneck. Meanwhile, most visually impaired persons are immediately isolated and forced to fill an indemnity form, whether to open a bank account or get an ATM card at certain banks.

“This attitude is not only discriminatory but also demeaning. It denies persons with visual impairments the rights they deserve as individuals with disabilities.”

The CITAB boss urged CBN to abolish all discriminatory policies among Nigerian banks and direct that all banks in Nigeria should treat individuals with visual impairments fairly and justly.