PWD Group Urges Immediate Implementation of Niger Disability Commission

The Executive Director of the Empowerment Initiative of Persons with Disabilities (EIPWD), Muhammad Abubakar Enagi, has urged the Niger State Government to urgently establish and activate the Niger State Disability Commission. The aim is to address the persistent challenges faced by persons with disabilities throughout the state.

Enagi’s statement, signed and released to journalists, called on the Niger State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), relevant ministries, agencies, development partners, and other stakeholders to accelerate the commission’s creation.

Despite being one of Nigeria’s largest states and home to thousands of people with disabilities, Niger remains the only state in the North‑Central region without a functioning Disability Commission.

According to the statement, people with disabilities in Niger continue to encounter obstacles in accessing education, healthcare, employment, social protection programmes, and participation in governance.

The PWD group described the establishment and full implementation of the commission as a vital step toward promoting equity, inclusion, and the protection of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.

A functional commission would provide an institutional framework for coordinating disability affairs, monitoring the implementation of disability‑related laws and policies, advocating for accessibility, and ensuring that persons with disabilities are fully integrated into the state’s development agenda.

While acknowledging the Niger State Government’s efforts to promote the welfare of vulnerable groups, the EIPWD urged authorities to prioritize the swift implementation of the commission.

“The time to act is now. Persons with disabilities in Niger State deserve a strong institutional framework that protects their rights, amplifies their voices, and guarantees their inclusion in all aspects of society,” the statement read.

The group added that establishing the commission would align Niger State with national and international best practices on disability inclusion and offer renewed hope to thousands of people with disabilities across the state.

It emphasized that the commission is not merely a policy initiative but a demonstration of the government’s commitment to ensuring that no person with a disability is left behind in the state’s development agenda.