The Disability Advocate Team has commended the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other aviation stakeholders for steps taken to improve accessibility and services for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility at Nigerian airports.
The advocates gave the commendation during an engagement between FAAN, disability advocates and other stakeholders in the aviation sector.
The commendation was contained in a statement jointly signed by the Team Lead, Mr Abiodun Ozurumba of Project Elevate, and Dr Chike Okogwu, a disability inclusion advocate, on Wednesday in Abuja.
The advocates said FAAN and other stakeholders had continued to engage disability advocates on ways to improve the aviation system, describing the willingness to listen, engage and make improvements as deserving of recognition.
According to them, accessibility goes beyond installing ramps or providing wheelchairs, stressing that true accessibility means ensuring that passengers with disabilities can navigate the entire airport journey safely, independently and with dignity.
“From arriving at the airport and parking or being dropped off, through check-in, security, boarding and disembarkation, to baggage collection and leaving the terminal.
“This is why the emerging conversation around Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRMs), alongside Persons with Disabilities, is so important,” they said.
The advocates acknowledged the progress recorded by FAAN, saying it would be unfair to assess airport accessibility only from the perspective of existing gaps without recognising improvements made in recent years.
They recalled that in August 2025, FAAN announced enhanced wheelchair and special assistance services for passengers with disabilities, elderly travellers and others requiring mobility support.
They said the service was designed to cover passengers from check-in through boarding and upon arrival, adding that there had also been reports of improved responsiveness to travellers with reduced mobility, including dedicated assistance channels at some major international airports.
“We are not where we want to be yet, but we are definitely not where we used to be. That distinction matters,” they said.
The advocates also highlighted the legal framework supporting disability inclusion in Nigeria, noting that the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 provides protection against discrimination and establishes a framework for the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
They noted that the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) is responsible for promoting, protecting and enforcing the rights of persons with disabilities, while the Persons with Disabilities (Accessibility) Regulations, 2023 provide an additional regulatory framework for accessibility.
They, however, said the major challenge was to translate existing laws and regulations into consistent, everyday experiences for passengers with disabilities.
“However, the next phase of Nigeria’s aviation accessibility journey must concentrate on reliability. Equipment must be available and maintained, and staff must know how to use it.
“Assistance must be coordinated, passenger requests must be communicated across the relevant service chain, and there must be clear accountability when the system fails. The passenger must be at the centre,” they said.
The advocates urged FAAN to continue providing leadership while ensuring that airlines and other service providers fulfilled their responsibilities towards passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility.
“Constructive advocacy is not about attacking every institution that has shortcomings. It is about identifying barriers, recognising progress, demanding accountability and working with institutions to achieve better outcomes.
“FAAN, NCAA, airlines and handlers all deserve appreciation for the steps they have taken and, perhaps more importantly, for their demonstrated willingness to continue engaging stakeholders,” they said.
(NAN)
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