Gov. Otti Vows To Remove Barriers For PWDs

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has restated his administration’s resolve to eliminate all barriers hindering the full participation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the state.

In a goodwill message issued in Umuahia on Wednesday by his Special Assistant on Persons with Disabilities and Chairman of the Abia State Disability Commission, Mr. David Anyaele, the governor described the removal of such barriers as “a must”.

The message was released as Abia joined Nigeria and the global community to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), celebrated annually on December 3.

Otti noted that the Day, set aside by the United Nations, underscores the need for deeper understanding of disability issues and the imperative of protecting the rights and dignity of PWDs. He added that the observance also highlights the social, economic, political, and cultural gains that come with integrating PWDs into every aspect of public life.

“We are joining the international community to pause and reflect on the participation and contributions of persons with disabilities to the socioeconomic development of our state,” he said.

Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to disability inclusion, Otti stressed that government actions would continue to be guided by the Abia State Disability Law, the National Disability Act, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Speaking on this year’s IDPD theme, “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress,” he said the focus aligns with Abia’s values and ongoing reforms.

“To ensure that barriers removed never reappear, we have strengthened the capacity of Permanent Secretaries across Ministries, Departments and Agencies on disability inclusion, the Abia State Disability Law, and disability-responsive budgeting,” he said.

He added that public infrastructure across the state is being upgraded to improve accessibility. “The newly acquired mass-transit buses, for instance, are equipped with accessibility features for persons with physical disabilities, pregnant women, and the elderly,” he said.

According to Otti, similar capacity-building efforts have been extended to local governments. LGA Mayors and Chairmen across the three senatorial districts have been trained on disability inclusion, while more than 800 primary healthcare workers, teachers, and parents/caregivers have been sensitised on supporting children with intellectual disabilities.

“We will continue to say no to all forms of discrimination, stigma and isolation of Abians by reason of disability,” he stated.

While wishing all PWDs in the state a happy celebration, Otti assured that his administration would scale up its interventions on disability issues in the coming year.

“As we work to restore the glory of Abia and make her truly the number one state in Nigeria — God’s Own State — no one will be left behind,” he said.