The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, has called for stronger disability-inclusive measures to protect children with disabilities affected by conflicts and displacement in Nigeria.
Abba Isa made the call at the National Policy Dialogue on the Psychosocial Impact of Conflicts on Children in Nigeria, held at the University of Maiduguri, Borno State. The dialogue was convened by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Salma Ibrahim Anas, in partnership with relevant stakeholders.
The event brought together the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Mohammed Doro; the Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, represented by his Deputy, Hon. Umar Usman Kadafur; former Minister of State for Education, Hon. Yusuf Tanko Sununu; government officials, academics, security agencies, development partners and humanitarian actors.
Speaking at the dialogue, Abba Isa noted that children with disabilities often bear a disproportionate burden during conflicts, including displacement, psychological trauma, disruption of education and healthcare, abuse and neglect. He called for disability-inclusive psychosocial support, accessible humanitarian interventions and disability-disaggregated data to improve planning and response.
He further stressed the need to recognise children with disabilities as rights-holders rather than mere beneficiaries of humanitarian interventions, urging stakeholders to ensure that no child is left behind because of disability. “We must restore dignity, hope and opportunity,” he said.
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