The Centre for Infrastructural and Technological Advancement for the Blind (CITAB) has commended the Federal Government and the National Assembly for the passage of the National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill 2025, describing it as a historic milestone that could redefine Nigeria’s digital future. The organization, however, cautioned that this progress will ring hollow if it fails to embrace accessibility and inclusion for citizens with visual impairments.
In a statement issued in Lagos, the Executive Chairman of CITAB, Mr. Jolomi George Fenemigho, hailed the government’s foresight in enacting a law that aims to foster efficiency, transparency, and prosperity in the digital era. He, however, sounded a stern warning that the envisioned digital transformation must not sideline Nigerians who are blind or visually impaired. “A GovTech revolution that does not prioritize accessibility runs the risk of becoming a new frontier for mass exclusion—a ‘Digital Apartheid,’” he said.
Mr. Fenemigho emphasized that research and advocacy efforts by CITAB and its partners over several years have consistently shown that many government websites, applications, and e-services remain largely inaccessible to persons relying on screen readers and other assistive technologies. Despite the potential of these platforms to enhance service delivery, most fail to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, he noted.
He declared that a truly digital Nigeria must be one where every citizen can participate equally. According to him, “The shift from paper to digital systems must not create new, more powerful barriers for the marginalized. If digital platforms are not perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust, then exclusion persists—only under a shinier guise.”
While acknowledging the existence of laws such as the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, Mr. Fenemigho lamented that visually impaired Nigerians still face significant barriers that hinder their participation in national life. He stressed that a modern digital ecosystem must not repeat these injustices.
The CITAB Chairman urged the Federal Government to embed concrete accessibility measures within the bill’s implementation framework. He recommended clear mandates for all digital government services to meet global accessibility standards, the institution of independent accessibility audits carried out in collaboration with credible disability advocates, and the integration of inclusive technologies and digital literacy training into national broadband initiatives. He explained that internet access without accessibility only widens inequality rather than closing it.
“Digital transformation calls for more than good intentions or elegant codes,” Fenemigho remarked. “It requires deliberate investment in accessible tools, inclusive design, and the expertise of those who have lived the reality of exclusion. Inclusion is not an add-on; it is the foundation that gives meaning to progress.”
CITAB reaffirmed its readiness to partner with the Ministry of Communications, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the National Assembly to ensure that the digital economy serves all Nigerians. The organization expressed its willingness to provide technical support, training, and oversight to guarantee that the nation’s digital revolution becomes a continental model for inclusive governance and digital justice.
Mr. Fenemigho concluded by urging all stakeholders to act decisively, warning that failure to address accessibility today could entrench decades of digital inequality. “This bill offers us a chance to build a digital Nigeria where everyone—regardless of ability—can access, participate in, and benefit from technological progress,” he said.
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