FG promises PLWDs better deal in aviation, others

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has pledged to make Nigerian airports fair to all, including People Living With Disability (PLWDs).

At an event to mark this year’s International Day for PLWDs in Abuja, the minister said: “Even at the moment, we have space and area we cordoned, especially in Lagos and Abuja and so on, where such persons can rest.

“We provided wheel chairs and other special needs, and we will continue to do that.”

He said he grew up receiving religious teachings from Imams, Ibn Baz and Al-Hamid Kishk, who were both blind.

Sirika continued: “Though they were blind when I was younger, but they transferred into me tremendous amount of knowledge. So, I am a big supporter of PLWDs.

“I assure you that our airports will continue to be compliant with people with disability.”

Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, who also at the programme, said his ministry was committed to enthroning conducive environment for all persons to thrive, specially the PLWDs.

“In fact, the National Commission for Persons With Disabilities was established just within a year of the minister’s assumption of office. We are grateful to her for the rare achievement.

“On our part, we are doing our best to follow her recommendations in the area of inclusive education for PLWDs. In that regard, we are retooling our schools and education programmes.

“We are including braille in some schools for use by virtually impaired persons. In this era of COVID-19, we have also been encouraging online learning for the inclusion of PLWDs,” he added.

Nwajiuba stated concrete attempt was being made to aid PLWDs.

Also speaking, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment for promotion of PLWDs’ welfare across the federation.

She said the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration should be commended for championing the interest of PLWDs, particularly by assenting to the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act “after almost 18 years of long struggle.”