The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) has voiced strong concern over the sluggish pace of implementing Nigeria's commitments under the 2025 Global Disability Summit (GDS). The association warned that without urgent action, millions of persons with disabilities risk continued exclusion from essential services.
Speaking at a roundtable on Nigeria's 2025 GDS Commitments held in Abuja, JONAPWD National President Abdullahi Aliyu Usman, represented by Programme Officer Bukunmi Adejumo, stressed that the commitments should serve as a framework for advancing disability inclusion and holding the government accountable. He noted that the Global Disability Summit was established to bridge the gap between disability inclusion and development cooperation, promoting accountability, partnerships, and inclusive development.
Usman highlighted that disability issues are often overlooked in national conversations despite affecting millions of Nigerians. He emphasized that the summit provides an opportunity to place disability inclusion at the center of policy discussions and development planning. Nigeria participated in previous summits in London in 2018 and 2022 before making fresh commitments at the 2025 summit in Berlin, Germany.
The Global Disability Summit, created in 2017, brings together governments, development agencies, civil society, and organizations of persons with disabilities to advance disability-inclusive development and humanitarian action, particularly in the Global South. After the 2025 summit, JONAPWD convened stakeholders to develop an action plan supporting engagement with government institutions and tracking implementation.
Nigeria made commitments across 12 thematic areas: digital inclusion, financing for disability inclusion, inclusive education, legal capacity, humanitarian action, private sector participation, social protection, inclusive healthcare, accessible infrastructure, community inclusion, employment, and climate resilience. A major commitment focuses on access to digital information and communication, including adopting accessibility standards in broadcasting and increasing sign language interpretation and captioning.
Usman described accessibility as a critical issue, noting that many public facilities, roads, and buildings remain inaccessible despite existing regulations. Nigeria's building code contains accessibility provisions, but compliance is poor. He stated, "If we get accessibility right, many challenges in education, healthcare, employment, and social protection will be significantly reduced."
On inclusive education, Usman argued that many children with disabilities remain excluded from quality learning. Although the government committed to reducing out-of-school children by 2028, deliberate efforts are needed to ensure children with disabilities are not left behind. Some schools labeled as inclusive still fail to cater adequately for learners with different disabilities.
Regarding healthcare, Usman highlighted accessibility, affordability, and equity concerns. Deaf patients face challenges due to a lack of sign language interpreters, and accessing assistive devices and disability-friendly services remains difficult. He questioned whether health insurance schemes and social protection programs adequately serve persons with disabilities.
Usman noted that recent disability-disaggregated data indicates Nigeria has over 32 million persons with disabilities, underscoring the need for deliberate inclusion in policies and interventions. He called for stronger disability inclusion in humanitarian and emergency response, referencing the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, which requires priority consideration during emergencies.
While acknowledging some policy and institutional progress, Usman maintained that implementation remains slow. He urged stronger voices, commitment, coordination, and accountability to ensure the commitments translate into measurable improvements for persons with disabilities across Nigeria.
