Niger Govt asks to domesticate legal framework to protect people with disabilities

By BABA ALFA, MINNA

Niger State government has been told to be proactive in providing a legal framework to protect the rights of people with disabilities to guide against discrimination.

The convener of domestication against persons with disability, Hajiya Fauziya Abubakar Kure, supported by NYFF, said the Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 has not been enforced at the state level.

Presenting a paper at a seminar held at the Women Centre, Old Secretariat, with the theme, “Building an Inclusive Niger: Voices, Rights, and Dignity for All,” Fauziya noted that the gap leaves thousands of residents without legal protection, adding that it is high time for the government to urgently domesticate and implement the Disability Act 2018 to strengthen legal protection.

She further explained that by implementing the Disability Act, it will improve access to services, promote inclusive governance, and align Niger State with other nations.

She pointed out that Niger State, like others, is rich in diversity, strength, and resilience, yet true progress can only be achieved when no one is left behind.

Fauziya also noted that Nigeria has one of the largest populations of persons with disabilities, with over 25 million estimated to have some form of disability.

Earlier, the convener visited the State House of Assembly for a dialogue to co-create solutions that promote equity, dignity, and equal opportunity for all. She pointed out that Niger State, like many others, is rich in diversity, strength, and resilience, yet true progress can only be achieved when no one is left behind.

“As members of this Honourable House, today’s gathering is more than just a conversation; it is a shared commitment to building a society where every voice matters, especially persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups.”

Also at the seminar, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Barrister Ladidi Azuwa, and the Deputy Director, Rehabilitation Department, Hajiya Aishetu Alhassan, who spoke in the same vein, said the only problem is the political will to domesticate the law to avoid stigmatisation.