The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) has revealed that an estimated 35 million Nigerians live with disabilities, with Kano State and Lagos State accounting for the largest populations.
The estimate was presented in Abuja during a media briefing organised by JONAPWD to unveil its assumptive disability disaggregated data report, a document designed to provide a clearer picture of the distribution of persons with disabilities across the country.
Data from the report shows that Kano State has the highest estimated number of persons with disabilities at about 2.5 million, while Lagos State follows with approximately 2.1 million.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Mohammed Abba Isa, described the report as a crucial step toward addressing Nigeria’s persistent lack of reliable disability statistics.
According to him, the absence of comprehensive data has long limited the ability of policymakers and development partners to design effective interventions for persons with disabilities.
Isa said the new dataset offers a structured overview of disability demographics across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, providing an important foundation for evidence-based policy and planning.
He commended JONAPWD for spearheading the initiative and noted that the government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to strengthening inclusive development through improved data systems under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
In his remarks, JONAPWD National President, Abdullahi Usman, explained that the estimates were based on internationally recognised benchmarks which place persons with disabilities at around 15 percent of any country’s population.
He added that the projections were refined through consultations with disability cluster leaders and organisations of persons with disabilities nationwide.
Usman also disclosed that JONAPWD will continue to work closely with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and other partners to strengthen disability data systems and build a more robust national database.
He urged government institutions, development partners and civil society organisations to utilise the data to design inclusive programmes and policies that respond to the realities of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
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