The Federal Government has raised serious concerns over the increasing vulnerability of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to human trafficking, sexual violence, and other organized crimes, warning that women, children, and girls with disabilities remain the most at risk in Nigeria.
This was disclosed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Mohammed Abba Isa, during the 2025 Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Crime Prevention and Transnational Threats, organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Isa revealed that his office continues to receive disturbing reports of crimes against PWDs, including sexual harassment, rape, forced labour, robbery, and human trafficking, noting that persistent social exclusion, unemployment, and limited access to opportunities have significantly heightened their exposure to exploitation by organized criminal networks.
According to him, women, girls, and children with disabilities are disproportionately affected, as societal neglect and economic vulnerability make them easy targets for criminal syndicates.
While addressing participants at the dialogue, Isa stressed the importance of the globally recognised disability rights principle of “Nothing About Us Without Us,” calling for the meaningful involvement of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), civil society groups, and relevant government institutions in the formulation and implementation of Nigeria’s proposed National Strategy Against Organized Crime.
He further advocated for stronger civic participation through a robust whistle-blowing culture, supported by effective protection mechanisms for informants, noting that silence continues to embolden criminal elements.
The presidential aide also urged UNODC and other stakeholders to ensure that crime-prevention tools and resources are made fully accessible in braille, audio, sign-language interpretation, and easy-to-read formats, describing accessibility as a fundamental right rather than a privilege.
Isa emphasised the need to strengthen Nigeria’s justice and security systems through improved accountability, strict adherence to the rule of law, and enhanced inter-agency collaboration involving NAPTIP, NDLEA, the Nigeria Police Force, DSS, NSCDC, and the Ministry of Justice.
He said the engagement aligns with the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities theme, “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress,” stressing that true national development must prioritise the protection of the most vulnerable.
Isa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to strengthening enforcement agencies, improving intelligence-sharing, enhancing border security, expanding public awareness campaigns, and advancing legal frameworks, including the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking and the ongoing development of the National Strategy Against Organized Crime.
He commended UNODC for convening the dialogue, describing it as a timely intervention aimed at addressing critical gaps in understanding the impact of organized crime on Persons with Disabilities.
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