The National Commission for Person with Disability (NCPWD) has disclosed plans to seal off public buildings that are inaccessible to Persons with Disability, effective January 16, 2024.

NCPWD Executive Secretary, James Lalu, stated this at the National Conference for Women with disabilities, yesterday in Abuja.

The theme of event was: ‘Economic Empowerment: A catalyst for Eradicating Gender-based Violence Against Women with Disabilities.’

Lalu said it was uncharitable for public buildings like schools, hotels, churches supermarkets, mosques, government offices and banks not to have plain slabs, electronic doors and brail to aid movement and directions for PWDs.

According to him, the commission will start from big offices and top government functionaries to see if they would respect the provisions of the law.

“We are committed to enforcing the provisions of the law. The law provides enforcement from January 16, 2024. So, going forward, we will start the sealing off.

“We will start with the mighty buildings and offices of the big to see if our people will respect the provisions of the law

“We will make sure that every pubic building reliably comply with the law of accessibility to persons with disabilities.

“We remain committed to ensuring accessible environment for persons with disabilities in our educational sector, in our health sector, in the public sector, government offices.

“We are calling on the international communities that are in Nigeria, all embassies that are here and all other development partners to comply with the provisions of the law. This is one Nigeria.

“We will make sure that every pubic building reliably comply with the law of accessibility to persons with disabilities.

“We remain committed to ensuring accessible environment for persons with disabilities in our educational sector, in our health sector, in the public sector, government offices.

“This is one Nigeria. It is going to be enforced. We remain for ever committed to this and we appreciate the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation for her commitment to providing the necessary backup support to us and we will be forever grateful.

“The provisions of the law is there for punishment. The National Railway Accessibility Regulation is also there.

“It provides prescribed fees for punishment. Whatever it is every public buildings that is seen not to accessible to persons with disabilities will be subjected go pay the penality before it will be unsealed,” he said.

He defined a public building as any “building that is supposed to be accessible to citizens of the country with a minimum number of 10 persons per day. But if you have s shop or supermarket that is not less than 10 persons and people go in to buy something or get services are supposed to be accessible to persons with disabilities.”

Also, House of Representatives Chairman on Disability Matters, Dr Bashir Daudu, said the National Assembly would continue to provide legal backings to strict compliance of the law. (Daily Sun)

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