The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has intensified efforts to promote the protection of civic space rights for persons with disabilities (PWDs) with a high-level advocacy visit to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oyo State Command in Ibadan. The engagement, held on March 17, 2026, brought together disability leaders, cluster heads, and media representatives to advance inclusive security practices across the state.
During the meeting with the State Commandant, Augustine Padonu, CCD representatives outlined key concerns affecting civic actors with disabilities. Project Officer Christiana Njoku said the visit aimed to raise awareness on civic space rights and advocate for disability-inclusive protection mechanisms. Senior Programme Officer Florence Attah highlighted findings from the Expanding Civic Space Rights project, noting challenges such as harassment, intimidation, communication barriers, and limited access to justice faced by PWDs.
CCD urged the NSCDC to adopt practical measures to safeguard the rights of PWDs, including establishing dedicated reporting channels, ensuring accessible offices, engaging sign language interpreters, and training personnel on disability inclusion. The organisation also called for disability-sensitive approaches in security operations and crowd control to guarantee equal participation in civic activities.
In response, Padonu welcomed the recommendations and pledged concrete actions, including the establishment of disability desk offices across the State Command, 11 Area Commands, and 76 Divisions. He assured that such offices would be located on ground floors for accessibility and expressed readiness to collaborate with CCD on training officers in disability rights and sign language. He further disclosed plans to escalate proposals for employing PWDs as desk officers and advocating priority voting for PWDs to the national leadership of the Corps and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Representatives of disability clusters, including the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), called for strengthened inclusive practices, improved accessibility, and enhanced communication support within security operations. They emphasized the need for continuous engagement to ensure that the rights of PWDs are protected across all civic processes.
Also speaking, Finance and Admin Manager Florence Austin commended the NSCDC for its prompt response and existing collaboration with CCD, referencing similar partnerships in Lagos State. She reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting the Oyo Command through capacity building and sustained advocacy to achieve inclusive security outcomes.
The advocacy visit marks a significant step towards building a more responsive and inclusive security system in Oyo State, with stakeholders expressing optimism that the commitments made will translate into tangible improvements for persons with disabilities.
Join Inclusive News Network WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.