Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Rivers State have called on the government to take urgent action in addressing systemic exclusion caused by lack of accessible infrastructure and social inclusion.

The call was made in an award event organised by FAECARE Foundation in Port Harcourt on Friday, March 21, 2025.

 Through its the Disability Rights Initiative Project: Accessibility (DRIPA) a one-year project supported by the Disability Rights Fund (DRF) they are pushing for improved physical accessibility and increased public awareness to ensure disability inclusion becomes a fundamental part of societal development.

Speaking on the issue, Executive Director of FAECARE Foundation, Ndifreke Andrew highlighted a concerning statistic from a recent survey.

“43.5% of persons in Rivers State are unaware of the discrimination against persons with disabilities law. Those who are aware learned about it through social and traditional media, conferences, or organizations like FAECARE Foundation.”

Andrew emphasized that since 2002, through the Visibility Rights Project, the organization has made significant progress using advocacy and strategic interventions.

 She noted that some previously inaccessible locations had taken corrective action following advocacy efforts, with institutions reaching out to showcase their compliance. 

She further stated that the next phase of the initiative will extend into rural communities, ensuring that men, women, and children across ten local government areas, receive critical information about disability rights. 

Calling on the Rivers State Government she urged immediate action.

“Remove barriers and create inclusivity in all sectors by adopting a rights-based disability law. Establish a well-funded Rivers State Disability Council to oversee compliance and ensure continuous improvement. Mandate accessibility in all public infrastructure projects.”

She also called on civil society organizations and the private sector to demand accountability from policymakers and integrate disability inclusion into all programs, not as an afterthought. 

Delivering a keynote address titled “Disability Accessibility: Taking It Further in Rivers State,” Oby Adiela pointed out inconsistencies in compliance with both the Rivers State Persons with Disability Welfare Enhancement Law (2012) and the National Disability Prohibition Act (2018).

She urged the government, legal practitioners, and civil society to take decisive action.

“The government must prioritize passing the 2024 Disability Bill and establish the Disability Commission within 90 days.”

Echoing this sentiment, Chairman of the event, Bernard Moses, encouraged PWDs to embrace self-empowerment.

“Never think you are disabled. Disability is only present in the mind”.

The event underscored the urgent need for stronger legal frameworks, improved accessibility, and greater public awareness to foster an inclusive society for all.