Sirika asks aviation agencies to provide infrastructure for the disabled

The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has called for infrastructure to be provided by all airlines and aviation agencies at the airport to take care of peculiarities of people with physical challenges.

The Minister gave the indication when the Executive Director, Centre for Citizen with Disabilities, David Ayaele and his team paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

He also promised to ensure that the persons with disabilities are accorded all rights and support at the nation airports in accordance with the provisions of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Act.

The Minister further directed all airline operators in Nigeria to ensure that persons with disabilities are accorded all rights and support in the course of their travels.

Sirika told the team that he was sure that the mandatory five per cent employment quota enshrined in the Disability Act has been surpassed, as the Ministry and its agencies do not have any record of discrimination against people with disabilities.

The Executive Director Centre for Citizen with Disabilities Mr. David Obinna Ayaele complained to the Minister about the incessant discrimination experienced by persons with disability at the nation’s airports and called for the full implementation of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) 2018 Act.

Ayaele urged the Hon Minister to speedily investigate the increasing human rights violations against citizens with disabilities by airlines operators in Nigeria with a view of bringing perpetrators to book and elimination of all forms of violence against such persons at the nation’s airport.