By Andrew Utulu
LAGOS – The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos Command has averred that Persons With Disabilities (PWD), deserve justice and all the required forms of support, access and inclusion needed within the society.
Usman Ishaq Alfadarai, State Commandant, NSCDC, Lagos State Command made the assertion in Lagos during the revamping of the Persons With Disabilities’ desk office.
He said this is in order to enhance quality interface and ensure their inclusion and access to fundamental human rights and other privileges that should make live easier for them.
DSC Abolurin Oluwaseun, Civil Defence Public Relations Officer,Lagos State Command disclosed in a statement made available to Saturday Independent.
Abolurin said that during an interactive session with the Commandant of Corps, Alfadarai, recommendations from the clusters, such as person with albinism, hearing impaired, visually impaired, and the physically challenged, who came under the umbrella of Centre for Citizens With Disabilities, harped on collaboration between the Corps and OPDs, mainstreaming of PWDs in the Corps’ modus operandi, emotional support mechanism, monitoring and reporting mechanism against violation, establishing assessable ways for crime reporting, which has the potential of reducing stigmatization and other challenges often faced, by PWDs.
Alfadarai, seized the opportunity, to re – echo the directive of the Commandant General, NSCDC, CG Ahmed Abubakar Audi, to create the unit across all the commands, throughout the federation.
The NSCDC, Lagos State command, said it has taken it upon itself to revamp the desk office, in order to ensure its enhanced, productivity and meaningful impact, by designating needed persons with the required skills in areas such as sign language and interpretation to take up the responsibilities.
Alfadarai re-iterated that the National Association of the Centre has a harmonious working relationship with the NSCDC at the National Headquarters, Abuja, adding that the Corps remained a critical stakeholder in enforcing laws that relate with the protection of the rights of PWDs.
He also assured the visiting clusters led, by Mrs Florence Austin, Mrs Christiana Njoku and Tosin Amiramu that the command would work hand in glove with their executives and other services, to further ensure the effective protection of their rights and privileges.