Abuja, Nigeria – A newly released national report on disability inclusion has revealed that 28 percent of health facilities in Nigeria lack basic accessibility features, posing significant challenges for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in accessing essential healthcare services.
The 2024 State of Disability Inclusion Report (SDIR) was officially launched on Friday by Project Enable Africa, in partnership with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
The report presents the first comprehensive evaluation of disability inclusion in Nigeria since the passage of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2019, assessing progress and gaps in implementation across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to the report, 23 states have enacted disability laws, but only 15 have operational agencies to implement them. The North-West region leads in domestication of the law, while the South-South trails behind significantly.
Only Lagos State stands out for having implemented both social protection and inclusive education policies tailored to the needs of persons with disabilities.
“Public spaces remain largely inaccessible, with most facilities lacking essential accommodation features,” the report notes. It further highlights that the 5% employment quota for PWDs remains largely unenforced due to persistent discrimination in the workplace.
The report also flags the dire situation in the education and health sectors, stating that inclusive education policies are inconsistently supported, and disability-specific vulnerabilities are often overlooked in programme design and delivery.
Some of the more alarming findings include:
Over 90% of persons with disabilities live in poverty
80% of women with disabilities have experienced sexual abuse
Healthcare costs remain a major barrier to access for the majority of the disability community
Speaking at the report launch, Dr. Kola Olugbodi, who represented the Project Enable Africa Board, said the document offers a crucial reality check. “This report helps us assess how far we’ve come in terms of accessibility, employment, and inclusion. It’s not just a document — it’s a wake-up call.”
Also speaking, Mr. Ayuba Gufwan, Executive Secretary of the NCPWD, represented by Mr. Nkem Uchegbulam, pledged that the Commission will accompany the report with a formal memo to relevant ministries and state governments. The memo, he said, will provide direction on how the report’s findings align with their respective mandates.
The SDIR is expected to serve as a blueprint for strategic interventions and policy adjustments to improve disability inclusion nationwide.
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