Jos, Jan. 26, 2022: A group, the Coalition of Disability Organisations has called for increased accessibility at airport terminals and airlines across Nigeria for People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs).
The convener of the group, Mr David Anyele, made the call at a sensitisation programme for airline stakeholders in Jos.
Anyaele also called on airport authorities and airline operators to make provisions for equipment, personnel and infrastructure that would guarantee a seamless travel experience for them.
“We are worried that in spite of the passage of the discrimination against people living with disabilities Provision Act, PLWDs still struggle to access airports.
“Air travel is the most convenient long-distance for Nigerians, as such, PLWDs patronise airport services regularly.
“But when we cannot access airports seamlessly, it becomes an issue of abuse, indiscrimination and inhumane treatment.
“We are here to sensitise aviation stakeholders on seamless access to airports,” he said.
Anyaele expressed gladness that stakeholders in Plateau had identified gaps and were willing to close them by putting in place the required equipment at airports for easy accessibility.
He commended the Plateau government for giving assurances to make the Yakubu Gowon Airport a ninth-level airport which is obtainable in other countries.
Mr Gwantong Isaac of the Civil Aviation Authority in a remark regretted that the Yakubu Gowon Airport in Plateau was not built with the PLWDs in mind.
Isaac said that the airport had no designated car parks, consumer desks for people with disabilities, special toilet facilities, flight display systems and others, to ease the movement of those with reduced mobility.
He advised that airport construction should only be handled by persons with the required knowledge of airport specifications.
A participant, Mrs Kyenan Mizim, noted that adequate equipment such as ramps, wheelchairs, and accessible restrooms in the plane would provide ease and encourage more persons with disabilities to use air transport.
Mizim also called for the end of discrimination against PLWDs in Nigeria.
The Permanent Secretary, Plateau Ministry of Transport, Mr Sunday Pamson, said that sensitisation was very important in achieving the desired goal.
He commended the administration’s total inclusion it created for persons living with disabilities by creating a disability commission headed by a woman.
