Sirika Assures Persons With Disabilities Of Rights Protection, Facilitation  At Airports  

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika

In accordance with the provisions of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Act, the minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika has pledged to ensure that persons with disabilities are accorded  all right and supports in all  airports across the country.

Sirika  gave the assurance when the Executive Director, Centre for Citizen with Disabilities, David Ayaele and his team paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

He  said, equipment and facilities that would help the movement of persons with disability at the airports would be provided, adding that no form of discrimination and mistreatment of  persons with disabilities at the nation’s airports would be tolerated henceforth.

The Minister in a statement by the Director, Public Affairs  James Odaudu, further directed all airline operators in Nigeria to ensure that persons with disabilities are accorded all rights and support in the course of their travels.

Sirika told the team that he was sure that the mandatory 5% employment quota enshrined in the Disability Act has been surpassed, as the Ministry and its agencies do not have any record of discrimination against people with disabilities.

Earlier the Executive Director Centre for Citizen with Disabilities  David  Ayaele lamented on the incessant discrimination experienced by persons with disability at the nation’s airports and called for the full implementation of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) 2018 Act.

Ayaele urged the  Minister to speedily investigate the increasing human rights violations against citizen with disabilities by airlines operators in Nigeria with view of bringing perpetrators to book and elimination of  all forms of violence against  such persons at the nation’s airport.

He equally appealed to the Minister to ensure that in accordance with Act,   all airlines operating in Nigeria ensure the accessibility of their aircraft to persons with disabilities by making available presentable and functional wheelchairs for the conveyance of persons with disabilities to facilitate their movement to and from the aircraft and ensure that disable persons are accorded priority while boarding and disembarking from aircraft.

The Executive Director also appealed to the Minister to ensure implementation of the 5% employment  recommendation in the Disability Act is implemented in the Ministry and its agencies.

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