Dr James David Lalu, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), has assured that the commission is deeply committed to ensuring the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities are upheld in all aspects of society.
He gave the assurance in a post shared through his personal social media page on Saturday in response to the recent widespread reports on discrimination against person with a disability by KFC at Lagos Airport.
He said “It has become imperative that the incident allegedly involving discrimination against a person with a disability that occurred at a KFC restaurant in Nigeria should not be taken lightly. I take such allegations very seriously, and I want to assure the public that the NCPWD is actively addressing this matter.
“I have directed a thorough investigation into the incident at the KFC Nigeria restaurant to determine the facts surrounding the alleged discriminatory behavior. Our investigation will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2018.”
Dr Lalu added that the commission is dedicated to promoting inclusivity and ensuring equal treatment for all individuals, regardless of disability status.
According to him, “any form of discrimination against persons with disabilities is unacceptable and goes against the principles of equality and human rights.
“We are committed to holding accountable those responsible for any acts of discrimination and to ensuring that measures are put in place to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
He urges anyone who has experienced or witnessed discrimination against persons with disabilities to come forward and report it to the NCPWD.
“Together, we can work towards building a more inclusive and equitable society for all.” He said.