Breaking Barriers: The Daily Struggles of People with Disabilities in Nigeria

 It was a typical Saturday morning, and after finishing my sanctuary duties at Living Faith Church (LFC) Sunnyvale, I turned on my ride-hailing app, ready to start the day’s work. Almost immediately, a request came in from City View Estate. Upon arrival, I discovered my rider was a lady who relied on a wheelchair for mobility.

This was uncharted territory for me. I had never folded a wheelchair before, and it was more challenging than I expected. As I awkwardly fumbled with it, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of embarrassment. But that moment of discomfort turned into a valuable lesson — not just in handling a wheelchair but in understanding the everyday challenges faced by people with disabilities.

As we set off, I gauged her interest in conversation, and soon, we were talking. I mentioned the recent viral incident involving Adebola Daniel, son of a former Nigerian state governor, Gbenga Daniel. Adebola was ordered to leave a KFC outlet at Lagos airport simply because he was in a wheelchair. The incident sparked outrage across social media, leading to an investigation and eventual closure of the branch by the federal airport authority. The stigma and discrimination highlighted by this incident was shocking, especially in a society where empathy should be the norm.

In Nigeria, the challenges faced by people living with disabilities are immense and often go unnoticed by those not directly affected. I was reminded of a video on Instagram where a group of friends had to carry a disabled student down a flight of stairs every day just to get to class. It’s a sobering thought — what happens if that student loses those friends or if they are unavailable one day? How would he continue his education?

This made me question:

• How accessible are our schools?
• How accessible are our places of worship?
• How accessible are public facilities?

One time, I took my rider to Sahad Stores in Garki, Abuja, to get groceries. We quickly discovered that the elevators were too narrow for a wheelchair. We had to resort to using the freight elevator — an experience that was both inconvenient and demeaning.

This incident made me reflect on how little thought I had given to accessibility issues. Society frequently sees people with disabilities as burdens rather than as individuals with equal rights and needs.

My own mother, who is getting older and experiencing difficulty with her legs, often comes to mind. While I pray for her continued health, the reality is that she may one day require assistance with mobility. If that day comes, will our society be equipped to support her and others like her?

Public restrooms, for example, are often inaccessible to those in wheelchairs. Imagine having to carefully plan your outings, watching your diet to avoid needing the restroom because many public buildings lack accessible facilities. Markets like Wuse, Garki, or Wuye in Abuja are bustling centers of activity, yet how does someone in a wheelchair navigate these spaces without assistance? In more advanced countries, people with disabilities can drive, shop, and navigate public spaces with ease. When will Nigeria reach that level of inclusivity?

Employment opportunities for people with disabilities are another area where our society falls short. The employment quotas meant to include people with disabilities are often ignored or inadequately enforced. These individuals are not less human, yet they are treated as such. Nigeria’s Paralympians have brought home medals, showcasing their incredible talent and determination. How, then, can we justify treating people with disabilities as second-class citizens?

Even at workshops or events specifically organized for people with disabilities, it’s not uncommon to find venues that lack basic amenities like ramps or accessible restrooms. This irony is both frustrating and disheartening.

The responsibility to change this narrative falls on all of us — parents, society, and the government. We need to make our public transportation, buildings, and public spaces accessible to everyone, regardless of their physical abilities. The lack of wheelchair ramps at bus stops, the absence of accessible platforms at train stations, and the narrow doorways in public buildings are just a few examples of the everyday barriers that people with disabilities face in Nigeria.

I recently attended a workshop meant to empower people with disabilities, yet the venue was utterly inaccessible for those it intended to serve. This glaring oversight stayed with me as a reminder that we all need to do better. Whether it’s by advocating for better policies, being more inclusive in our designs, or simply showing more empathy in our daily interactions, we all have a part to play in making our society more accessible for everyone.

This experience has taught me to be more aware, more compassionate, and more determined to advocate for the rights and dignity of people living with disabilities. It’s a call to action for all of us — to break down the barriers that hold back a significant portion of our society and to build a world where everyone, regardless of ability, can live with dignity and respect.