Tag: 08032893614

Victims

By Ahmed Ubandoma

Abuja, June. 13, 2024 (NAN) The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) says, no fewer than 21,000 persons will benefit from the ECOWAS stabilisation funds for victims of flood disaster across six most affected states.

Mr Abubakar Kende, the Secretary General of NRCS disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during an inception meeting of the ECOWAS humanitarian support for people affected by floods in Adamawa, Anambra, Oyo, Kebbi, Kogi and Rivers states.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the meeting themed,  “Building Stronger and Resilient Families in Nigeria’ was organised in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

NAN also reports that,  during the meeting,  ECOWAS presented a cheque of 906, 200 Dollar to the Red Cross towards effective implementation of its stabilisation programme.

Kende represented by the NRCS Director of Disaster Management Mr Benson Agbo, said the stabilisation funds would be used to cater for the victims of flooding

“In our effort to alleviate the sufferings of the vulnerable in Nigeria, we have signed a tripartite agreement with the ECOWAS and the Humanitarian Ministry.

“The agreement aimed at supporting communities affected by flood disasters in Adamawa, Anambra, Oyo, Kebbi, Kogi and Rivers states.

“We are ready to go to these selected communities to deliver essential humanitarian aid to 21,000 individuals in 3,500 Households across these six states that are worst hit.

“This gesture will ensure that the Flood survivors return to their normal lives’’ he said.

Kende appealed to stakeholders to provide the necessary support to the victims to boost their socio-economic wellbeing.

“We encourage relevant stakeholders to act and provide the necessary infrastructure needed to control and mitigate the effects of flooding thereby improving peoples’ lives.

“As implementing partner, the Nigerian Red Cross Society will execute the project in the six states, ensuring timely and efficient delivery of assistance and maintaining transparent process’’ Kende said.

On his part, the Deputy Country Director of WFP in Nigeria, Mr Guy Adoua, said the Programme had built an enduring structure, critical to delivering food and nutrition to vulnerable people.

“We have not only addressed immediate food and nutrition needs of these vulnerable communities but we made significant strides in strengthening the resilience of these communities.

“Our work in Nigeria during 2021-2022 has demonstrated the profound difference that coordinated efforts and strategic partnerships can make.

“ WFP will provide a multi-dimensional assistance to 14,394 persons in Katsina and Sokoto states using the ECOWAS funds,’’ Adoua said.

According to him, this will include food and nutrition support, building capacity for state systems, psycho-social support to promote social cohesion and peace for a period of six months.

Earlier, the ECOWAS Commissioner, Human Development and Social Affairs Prof. Fatou Sarr, said, ECOWAS will continue to support member-states towards improving the livelihood of their citizens.

“Our focus will continue to be people-centred; therefore, projects such as this will continue to be the focus of the Management of ECOWAS programming.

“We invite you all to continue to accompany us to change the lives and livelihoods of our peoples for good, especially those at the grass roots.

Sarr therefore used the event to present a cheque of one million dollar to the WFP to ensure effective implementation of ECOWAS stabilisation programme to persons of concern by providing food and nutrition especially to victims of violence in Nigeria.

Also speaking, Mr Valentine Ezulu, the Director, Humanitarian Affairs in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation assured stakeholders of federal government`s determination to provide mechanism towards mitigating the impact of flood and consequences.

While appreciating the ECOWAS’ intervention in Nigeria, Ezulu said, the project will help to improve the food insecurity and malnutrition of the vulnerable groups in the affected states.

He recalled that the 2021 phase one beneficiaries of the ECOWAS Food and Nutrition support were Borno, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto states.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng).

AMU/ROT

========

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

Health

By Ahmed Ubandoma

Abuja, June 2, 2024(NAN) The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) says no fewer than 600 PwDs have benefitted from the pilot programme of its health Insurance package.

James Lalu, the Executive Secretary of the commission gave the figure on Sunday, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Lalu also told t) NAN that, the commission was working with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency in the training of over 3000 health workers that would  specialise in handling disability related illness.

According to him, the training would come in the second phase of the health insurance intervention programme.

”We have provided health insurance coverage for PwDs n the last two years. We started with 600 beneficiaries.

”We are currently working with the Federal Ministry of Health to improve access to healthcare facility for PwDs across the federation and we have started the pilot programme with the Maitama district hospital in Abuja.

”We have signed an MoU for the hospital to become a referral centre for PwDs,” he said

Lalu added “‘Our intention is to have, at least, one tertiary hospital in each state of the federation as referral for PwDs,

“We are providing training for the healthcare workers in the hospital on how to handle disability issues and make sure they are disability friendly.

”The training is ongoing at the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and over 3000 health workers have already passed through the training at the moment.

“We are creating awareness on access to healthcare facility for PwDs”.

On income security for PwDs Lalu said, no fewer than 150  Point of Sale (POS) machines and grant of N100,000 each was distributed to PwDs.

” We have also supported various Associations of PwDs on annual basis with grants to support their advocacy efforts

”We also provided assistive devices to three Nigerian Universities and the Sultanate Council in efforts to use the traditional institutions to create awareness on compliance with accessibility regulations for PwDs.

”The programme is expected to reduce hardship and and improve the health, sanitary conditions of the disability environment” he said.

Lalu said the programmes were also some of the commitments of the commission to ensure access to public services for PwDs in Nigeria(NAN)(www.nannews.ng).

AMU/ROT

========

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

Prosecution

By Ahmed Ubandoma

Abuja, June. 2, 2024 (NAN) The Federal Government says it will not hesitate to prosecute any individual or organisation found in violation of the rights and dignity of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in the country.

James Lalu, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

Lalu said relevant sections of the disability laws prohibited discrimination against PwDs, especially as contained in the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018.

He said the Act prescribes penalties ranging from fines and, or imprisonment.

Lalu, therefore, warned that the commission will not hesitate to sanction persons and organisations  in contravention of the law, no matter how highly placed.

”The commission has warned that it will not hesitate to drag any person to court to protect the right and dignity of Persons with Disabilities.

“The time to stop discrimination against Persons with Disabilities is now.

”If you have any persons with disability around you, and they are being maltreated or discriminated against, the time to stop is now.

”If they fail to stop, they will surely face the wrath of the law,” he said.

The executive secretary assured the over 35.5 million PwDs in the country of the commission’s determination to continue to promote and defend their dignity and rights as it was encapsulated in the disability law. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng).

AMU/ROT

=========

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

Allocation

By Ahmed Ubandoma

Abuja, June 2, 2024 (NAN) The Federal Government has increased the 2024 budgetary allocation of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities
(NCPWD) by 500 per cent of what it received in 2023.

The Executive Secretary (ES) of the commission, Mr James Lalu, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja

Lalu was speaking on how the disability community had fared in the one year administration of President Bola Tinubu,

“The administration of President Tinubu is truly committed to providing opportunities for People Living with Disabilities (PwDs).

“The commission has continued to receive all the necessary support from the administration to ensure that PwDs are carried along.

“Since the coming of the Renewed Hope administration, there are some deliberate initiatives the president put in place to improve access to governance and quality of service to persons with disabilities,” he said

Lalu recalled that, as soon as the President assumed office on May 29, 2023, he made request on the instrument of reactivation of the African Union Protocol on Disability.

“The president did not waste time, he went ahead to sign the instrument, demonstrating Nigeria’s commitment towards improving the quality of lives of PwDs which is part of the international treaty.

“As I am talking to you, Nigeria is a full-time member-state on issues of Disabilities as regarding African Protocol on Disability.,” he said.

Lalu said Tinubu equally created the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Disability Affairs to ensure that PwDs are carried along in governance.

“Just recently, there was approval from the President for the full enforcement of  Accessibility Law.

“This is a policy document, created primarily to provide standardisation for accessibility facilities for PwDs in public buildings and all the build environments as well as transportation.

“The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities at the moment, is setting all the structure that are required for the full enforcement of this accessibility regulations.

“This is going to empower the Commission to monitor compliance, seal buildings and where necessary, invite erring party or organisations.

“The commission is also empowered by the law to do investigation, prosecute and sanction, where appropriate,” he said

Lalu said it was based on the approved law by the President that sanction was meted to a KFC outlet at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos over alleged discriminatory treatment against a Passenger with Reduced Mobility at the airport. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng).

AMU/ROT

========

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

Employment

By Ahmed Ubandoma

Abuja, June 2, 2024 (NAN) Nigeria business community has confirmed its commitment to comply with the provisions of the disability laws, especially in providing five per cent employment opportunities for People Living with Disabilities (PwDs)

They made the commitment at a conference recently held in Lagos between members of the business community and the management of National Commission for Persons With Disabilities led by the commission’s Executive Secretary, Mr James Lalu.

Briefing News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the outcome of the meeting on Sunday in Abuja, Lalu said the conference was attended by 57 top private business organisations including, KFC, MTN, Access Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Unilever Nigeria PLC, Total Energy among others,

He said the business entities equally agreed to provide easy accessibility of PwDs to their business environment as well as accommodation in their workplaces for the disability community.

“Based on this commitment, I see a very cheering business community, committing themselves to making sure that they comply with the provisions of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 as well as the regulations on accessibility for PwDs.

” I can boldly say that we are making progress on the issue of accessibility and we have created awareness on the need for the general public to embrace the disability community.

This is very impressive and we also require the support of each and everybody to make this a success,” he said.

Lalu said that in the public sector, the mandatory five per cent employment opportunity quota for PWDs is captured in section 28 and 29 of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Act.

In achieving this, the executive secretary said the commission partnered with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation.

He said a circular had been issued on inclusion of the provision in the public service rules to ensure its maximum compliance.

Lalu said the commission recently secured over 200 employment for Persons with Disabilities in line with the Act

The ES also disclosed that the commission was planning to launch a platform for employers and potential PwD employees, where organisations seeking recruitment can advertise.

To prepare PwDs for competitive employment opportunities, Lalu said the commission signed Memorandum of Understanding with five Universities to establish Centre for Disability Studies.

“Starting with the Nasarawa State University, Keffi the centre for disability studies is expected to run five different Degree programmes.

“The first, is the Bachelor of Accessibility Engineering, which will be able to produce experts, independent consultants that will have the technical know-how on how to provide assistive facilities for PwDs.

“All buildings from the start, is expected to engage the services of accessibility consultants, who will monitor the building from the design up to completion level to make sure these accessibility features are properly fitted into the building.

“It is only after this conformity that the building will be qualified to be issued with the National Accessibility Compliance Certificate,” he said.

The second programme, according to Lalu, is Bachelor of Science Degree in Rehabilitation Management, expected to train intermediate rehabilitation experts that would provide rehabilitation services to PwDs at the community level.

Another programme, according to the ES, is Bachelor of Art in Sign Language, which will be studied in Nigeria major languages.

Lalu said, it is a deliberate policy to produce sign language experts in Nigerian Languages who would bridge the gap between the deaf community and the hearing ones.

“Our mandate is to make sure we deploy sign language interpreters to all government offices and organisations where their services are needed,” he said.

Lalu said the institutions would also run Degree programme on Assistive Technology, (B.A Tech on Assistive Technology) aimed to train PwDs or any interested persons on design, manufacturing, assessment and administration of assistive technology for PWD.

“Assistive devices are supposed to be customised because a wheelchair for persons who have spinal cord injury is different from the wheelchair of survivors of polio.

“So, the degree programme is expected to carry along all this to make sure that everything is fitted for PwDs,” he said.

Lalu reiterated the commitment of the commission to providing opportunities for PwDs and stand in defence of their rights and dignity. (NAN) (www nannews.ng).

AMU/ROT

========

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

Investment

By Ahmed Ubandoma

Abuja, June 2, 2024 (NAN) The Federal Government says it has secured Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the tune N20 billion towards facilitating local production of assistive devices for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

Dr James Lalu, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

Lalu said, the need to source for investors in the manufacturing of locally made assistive devices for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) became necessary due to the high cost of the imported devices.

” Recently, we secured a foreign direct Investment to the tune of N20 billion and the organisation is committed to starting the local manufacturing of assistive devices as an MoU has already been signed.

”The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities is going forward to make sure that we provide this opportunity to Nigeria for the manufacturing of local assistive devices.

”This is due to the fact that 99 per cent of our assistive devices are imported and the prices are higher and are now getting out of the reach of the poor.

“Even, the budgetary allocation provided may not be able to provide assistive devices to the disability community across all states of the federation,” he said.

Lalu added that promoting local contents in the manufacturing of assistive devices will go a long way to increase patronage and boost the nation’s economy.

”With the local manufacturing of assistive devices, it will encourage the state governments, local governments and other government agencies to procure and distribute them to the disability communities.

”The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities is working already in the area of local manufacturing of assistive devices for Persons with Disabilities.

”These include, wheelchairs, hearing aids and other devices for the blind and the deaf as well as persons with albinism,” he said

The Executive Secretary disclosed that the commission was touting for talent in innovative and creative industry to improve in the production of assistive devices for PwDs.

”Just recently, we saw a video circulating on social media about one person in Kano, who was able to manufacture a digital eye-glass that can assist a blind person to walk around using sensors that will communicate to him through voice.

” When we saw this, we put an invitation to the innovator to come to our head office.

“We are expecting him at our head office on Tuesday and we are going to review his invention, to see what we can do, to partner with the Bank of Industry and NASENI to bring the innovation to reality in Nigeria,” he said.

Lalu noted that Nigeria is a land of great opportunities ,adding the the commission will scout for the opportunities in other to bring the disability community into technological era. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng).

AMU/ROT

========

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi