Lagos, Nigeria — October 16, 2025.
The Centre for Infrastructural and Technological Advancement for the Blind (CITAB) has condemned the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over its newly released ATM Accessibility Guidelines, describing them as “a token gesture” that fails to deliver real inclusion for persons with visual impairments.
In a statement issued in Lagos and signed by its Executive Chairman, Jolomi George Fenemigho, CITAB expressed disappointment that the October 2025 guidelines do not go far enough to guarantee financial independence and accessibility for blind Nigerians.
According to the group, the requirement that only two percent of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) be fitted with tactile graphic symbols and a listing of accessible locations represents a superficial approach rather than a genuine commitment to inclusion.
“For the blind community, being given crumbs instead of a rightful place at the table remains the reality,” the statement read. “Real accessibility features like audio guidance, Braille instructions, and universally accessible controls continue to be ignored. By sticking to limited measures and ambiguous language, the CBN keeps genuine financial independence out of reach for the disabled community in Nigeria.”
Fenemigho argued that tactile symbols alone do not equate to accessibility. He emphasized the need for audio navigation via headphones, Braille-labeled keypads, high-contrast displays, and user-friendly interfaces to enable independent and dignified banking experiences for persons with visual impairments.
CITAB also raised alarm over discriminatory banking practices that continue to deny blind Nigerians equal access to ATM services. The organization cited cases where banks either refuse to issue ATM cards to visually impaired customers or compel them to sign indemnity forms and sworn affidavits — requirements not demanded from sighted clients.
“It is a troubling irony that while banks parade superficial accessibility, many visually impaired Nigerians are still denied access to the very ATM cards that ought to help them,” Fenemigho lamented. “The result is a forced dependency that strips them of privacy, dignity, and financial autonomy, while making a mockery of CBN’s financial inclusion rhetoric.”
CITAB called on the CBN to take decisive action by issuing clear and binding directives to banks prohibiting discriminatory practices, establishing a dedicated disability help desk to handle accessibility complaints and monitor compliance nationwide, and enforcing strict penalties against financial institutions that fail to meet accessibility standards.
Fenemigho stressed that equal access to ATM cards and universally accessible machines is the foundation of true financial inclusion.
“Without these, the promise of inclusive banking will remain empty words,” he said.
The group reaffirmed its readiness to work with the CBN and other stakeholders to create a financial system that empowers persons with disabilities, ensuring that inclusion becomes a lived reality — not just a policy statement — for all Nigerians.
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