Abuja, Nigeria — April 29, 2026
Stakeholders have called for the urgent integration of disability-inclusive measures into Nigeria’s climate policies, following a high-level youth dialogue held in Abuja. The one-day event, convened by the Hope Alive for Possibilities Initiative (HAPI), brought together young persons with disabilities, advocates, and key actors from across North Central Nigeria.
Discussions at the forum highlighted the disproportionate risks faced by persons with disabilities during climate-related disasters such as floods and extreme heat. Participants shared lived experiences of exclusion, citing inaccessible early warning systems, lack of inclusive evacuation plans, and limited access to emergency information as major challenges.
Deaf participants decried the absence of sign language interpretation in emergency broadcasts, while visually impaired attendees pointed to the lack of braille and audio communication formats. Many stressed that disaster response systems often fail to consider their specific mobility and communication needs, leaving them vulnerable in critical situations.
Experts at the dialogue emphasized that climate change must be treated as both an environmental and human rights issue. They noted that the exclusion of persons with disabilities from climate planning increases their exposure to risks such as injury, displacement, and economic hardship.
Participants, however, advanced practical recommendations, including the integration of sign language interpreters in emergency communications, the development of accessible early warning systems, disability-inclusive infrastructure planning, and the inclusion of persons with disabilities in climate policy decision-making.
The event concluded with a strong call on government and relevant stakeholders to mainstream disability inclusion across national and state climate frameworks, invest in accessible disaster preparedness mechanisms, and strengthen collaboration with organizations of persons with disabilities.
Organisers noted that the dialogue signals a growing movement led by youths with disabilities advocating for inclusive climate action, warning that as climate threats intensify, the consequences of exclusion will become increasingly severe.
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