The Centre for Infrastructural and Technological Advancement for the Blind (CITAB) has called out the Federal Government over the continued closure of the Nigerian Farmcraft Centre for the Blind in Lagos — the only federal vocational training institution for visually impaired Nigerians — which has remained locked for over a year.
The Centre, under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction led by Dr. Betta Edu, has allegedly been abandoned, depriving blind Nigerians of critical vocational opportunities.
Speaking in Lagos, CITAB’s Executive Director, Jolomi George Fenemigho, condemned the prolonged closure as a clear violation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018. He questioned whether the government would tolerate such prolonged shutdowns in any other federal educational institution.
“Imagine a federal university closed for a full year — there would be national outrage. But when it concerns people with disabilities, urgency disappears, support fades, and silence takes over,” Fenemigho said.
He stressed that Section 5(1) of the Act guarantees the right to education and vocational training for persons with disabilities, yet the Ministry’s inaction denies blind Nigerians this right. Fenemigho also cited Section 24, which mandates government agencies to promote inclusion, accusing the Ministry of doing the opposite.
According to him, government agencies encourage persons with disabilities to acquire skills instead of begging, yet keep the very facilities that provide such training under lock and key. “It’s like asking someone to run a race while tying one of their legs, then denying them the finish line,” he remarked.
CITAB urged the National Assembly and the House Committee on Disability Matters to hold the Ministry accountable, reopen the Farmcraft Centre, and fully comply with the provisions of the Disability Act.
“The blind may not see the government’s neglect, but they feel its weight. It’s time to end this neglect, open the doors, and give them back their future,” Fenemigho concluded.
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