Abia to enforce provision of ramps in public facilities

Abia State youth and sports development ministry says it is liaising with the ministry of housing to ensure that all public facilities in the state is provided with ramps to create easier access for People with disability (PWDs).

Obilor Ananaba, the commissioner for sports and youth development, said this while hosting a delegation from the Abia State Disability Commission and their partners on an official visit to the ministry.

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Obilor, who was represented, by Temple Nwosu, a director in the ministry, said that the government has concluded arrangements to build ramps in all its facilities, so that people on wheelchairs can have unhindered access.

He acknowledged that the awareness rally, organised, by Abia Disability Commission and its partners, would help to sensitise the public on the existence and activities of the commission.

“We know that the Disability Commission was established by law, but if you leave it at that, not much will be achieved. And that is why the ministry has taken steps to ensure that the state budget committee appropriates funds for this commission.

Obilor said the ministry was committed to the course of people with disability, which was one of the reasons the ministry was established and urged PWDs in the state, to sustain the commission.

“We do know that all of us are not equally privileged. Some have, while some don’t have. Some are deprived, while some are privileged and for people like you who are living in this kind of condition, but refused to be discouraged, you are the reason why we want to encourage you.

He urged the PWDs to sustain the partnerships currently developed, as well as support the governor, to achieve their goals.

Eldad Monu, chairman, Abia State Disability Commission, who led the team, earlier in his speech, informed the commissioner that they were in the ministry to inform him about their sensitisation Street walk in Umuahia.

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Grace Jerry, executive director, Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) and Advocate for Disability Act Cluster (ADAC), a consortium of four civil society organisations (CSOs), and partners to Abia Disability Commission, explained that the rally was organised to create awareness and sensitise the public about the Abia State Disability Commission, as a way of closing the knowledgeable gap that exists between the citizenry, the government, institutions and to drive the sustainability of the commission.