The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) has called for accessible flood warning systems and greater involvement of persons with disabilities in climate planning to protect vulnerable communities from climate-related emergencies.
The association made the call during the launch of a one-year disability-inclusive urban resilience project organised in collaboration with the Global Disability Fund in Lagos on October 27, 2026.
The initiative seeks to promote community-led climate innovation and develop accessible solutions to flooding, extreme heat and other environmental risks affecting persons with disabilities and other vulnerable populations.
Lagos State will serve as the pilot location, with plans to replicate successful interventions across Nigeria. The project aims to improve the safety, mobility, accessibility, participation and digital inclusion of persons with disabilities in urban governance and climate adaptation by 2027 and beyond.
Speaking at the launch, Adetunde Ademefun, Head of the JONAPWD National Secretariat, said persons with disabilities were frequently overlooked in urban planning and disaster response, despite being among those most exposed to climate-related emergencies.
Ademefun questioned the effectiveness of relying mainly on radio and television announcements for flood warnings, noting that conventional communication channels could exclude persons with hearing impairments. He stressed the need for emergency information to be delivered through multiple accessible channels to ensure that everyone receives timely warnings and can respond appropriately.
He explained that the project would engage government agencies, civil society organisations and disability groups to identify gaps in existing climate and disaster management plans, strengthen institutional responsibilities and establish effective implementation and monitoring mechanisms. It would also assess whether Lagos State’s resilience strategy adequately addresses disability-related concerns.
Representatives of disability organisations at the event called for targeted interventions that recognise the different challenges faced by various disability groups during extreme weather conditions. Solomon Okelola, President of the Deafblind Association of Nigeria, said people with combined hearing and visual impairments were frequently excluded from disaster preparedness and emergency response.
Okelola noted that inadequate communication support and a shortage of interpreters with specialised skills could prevent deafblind persons from receiving emergency information and evacuating safely during disasters. He called for deliberate measures to ensure that emergency communication and evacuation arrangements accommodate their needs.
Similarly, Josephine Omolola, National President of the Albinism Association of Nigeria, called for stronger protection for persons with albinism against extreme heat and harmful ultraviolet radiation. She explained that prolonged exposure to direct sunlight could cause severe skin damage and increase the risk of skin cancer, making access to healthcare and protective interventions particularly important as temperatures rise.
Omolola commended the Lagos State Government for supporting persons with albinism through its healthcare system, including assistance with treatment for skin conditions and skin cancer surgeries at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. She urged the project organisers to engage directly with disability organisations to ensure that proposed interventions address the specific needs of different disability communities.
Meanwhile, Biaponu Olorunda, representing the General Manager of the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, disclosed that the agency was conducting an ongoing registration exercise for persons with disabilities from Monday to Friday. She added that plans were underway to expand the registration exercise across Lagos State in 2027.
Olorunda further explained that LASODA had continued engaging relevant health ministries and institutions to promote the inclusion of disability information in health data collection, including records relating to HIV and cancer. Also speaking, Babatunde Williams, National President of the Association for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities of Nigeria, pledged support for stronger collaboration among disability organisations and other stakeholders.
The project is expected to establish a steering committee and technical working group comprising government institutions, disability organisations and civil society groups to coordinate implementation and monitor progress. The initiative underscores the importance of disability-inclusive climate policies, accessible emergency communication, reliable disability data and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in urban planning to strengthen disaster preparedness and protect vulnerable communities.
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