Health
PWDs: CCD Unveils Report On Climate Change Impacts, Urges Implementation
By Lilian U. Okoro
The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has unveiled a research report on impacts of climate change on Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), calling for its implementation in the country.
The Acting Director CCD, Mr Godwin Unumeri, made the call the public presentation of the report titled: “Disability-Inclusive Greenhouse Gas Emission and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Nigeria” on Wednesday in Lagos.
The event brought together government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, persons with disabilities and other key stakeholder to foster dialogue, collaboration and stronger commitment to disability-inclusive climate change adaptation and mitigation in Nigeria.
Unumeri urged stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and policy commitment toward building climate resilience and ensuring the inclusion of persons with disabilities in Nigeria’s climate response.
He noted that valuable insights and recommendations from stakeholders at a validation workshop in February had been incorporated into the report.
According to him, effective implementation of the recommendations requires sustained collaboration, strong policy commitment, adequate resource mobilisation and coordinated action across sectors.
“By working together, we can translate these findings into practical interventions that strengthen climate resilience and ensure the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in Nigeria’s climate response,” he said.
In her remarks, the General Manager, Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, urged the stakeholders to ensure that the report would be translated into practical interventions to enhance full inclusion of PWDs particularly in climate change policies.
Lawal decried the adverse effects of climate change on PWDS, calling for their full representation in climate change policies, funding, programmes and actions at both the national and state levels.
According to her, the needs of PWDs are not often captured in climate change planning and other policies that concern them.
“Most of public structures and facilities designs do not align with the unique needs of PWDs
“I believe that with this meeting and reports, there will be positive changes going forward,” she said.
The Programme Officer of CCD, Mrs Christiana Njoku,gave an overview of the research, urging the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) to review the Climate Change Act of 2021 to ensure the inclusion and representation of PWDs.
Njoku emphasised need for NCPWD and the and LASODA to collaborate with first responders to conduct accessibility audits of emergency shelters.
Njoku also emphasised the need for organisations of persons with disabilities and civil society organisations to properly document issues affecting persons with disabilities.
“If these issues are not documented, the relevant stakeholders responsible for making and implementing policies will not know what to do.
“But once they are documented, it will give them a roadmap to implement inclusive policies and actions,” she said.
The event featured goodwill messages from many stakeholders including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), among others.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Vivian Ihechu
