By Isaiah Eka
Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) have called for inclusion in projects planning and implementation in the Niger Delta in accordance with the disability law.
Mr David Anyaele, the Founder and Executive Director of Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), said this in his remarks during sensitisation workshop in Uyo on Wednesday.
Anyaele, who stressed the need for government at all levels to engage PWDs in the formulation of policies and programmes, added that the lack of inclusivity is a serious concern.
“It is crucial that persons with disabilities are consulted and included in the planning and implementations of projects in the Niger Delta, in line with the disability law,” he said.
In her remarks, Mrs Dorothy Essang, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare in Akwa Ibom, said the state government had been working hard to include PWDs in its administration.
She said that while the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) did not explicitly address disability law, its provisions concerning host communities and development funds could indirectly impact individuals with disabilities in the Niger Delta.
She explained that “the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as we all know established a Host Community Development Trust Fund (HCDTF) that mandates oil companies to deposit a percentage of their working expenditure into the fund for development within the region.
“While the Act itself does not explicitly address disability law, its provisions regarding host communities and development fund could indirectly impact individuals with disabilities in the Niger Delta region.
“The development fund could potentially be used for projects that benefit people with disabilities, such as healthcare access, education programmes, infrastructure and agriculture.”
Essang, who commended the state government for including PWDs in its various programmes,
noted that Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom demonstrated this by appointing Special Assistant (SA) and Personal Assistant (PA) on disability matters in the state. NAN
