The National President of JONAPWD, Abdullahi Usman Aliyu, in his Independence Day message, said the progress highlighted by President Tinubu does not reflect in the lived realities of over 30 million Nigerians with disabilities.
Below is the full speech (abridged version):
Brothers and Sisters across Nigeria,
As our nation marks its 65th Independence Anniversary, I greet you on behalf of the disability community. While President Bola Ahmed Tinubu highlighted reforms, economic growth, and youth empowerment in his national broadcast, the truth is that these gains are yet to reach Nigerians with disabilities.
Where Are Persons with Disabilities?
Education remains out of reach for many due to inaccessible facilities, lack of inclusive curricula, and systemic exclusion. Our youth still face discrimination in schools, employment, and entrepreneurship despite government programmes like NELFUND, YouthCred, and iDICE.
The Disability Economy
Though Nigeria’s GDP is growing, persons with disabilities bear extra costs for survival—assistive devices, healthcare, transport, and communication. We call for targeted social protection, disability-inclusive cash transfers, accessible housing, and proper data collection.
Remember the Law
The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 mandates a minimum of 5% budget allocation for disability issues, accessibility standards in buildings, and employment quotas. These must reflect in the upcoming budget.
Security and Safety
Persons with disabilities are the hardest hit in conflict zones—often the last to flee and the least to be rescued. We demand inclusive humanitarian responses and protection for women and girls with disabilities from gender-based violence.
A Call for Inclusive Nation-Building
We are not a burden; we are voters, professionals, innovators, and citizens. A new Nigeria must include schools that welcome every child, accessible transport and housing, and fair employment.
Let this 65th Independence be the start of true inclusion, where promises become programmes and rights become realities.
God bless Nigeria.
God bless Nigerians with Disabilities.
Signed: Abdullahi Usman Aliyu, National President, JONAPWD. October 1, 2025.