BY NGOZI NWANKWO, ABUJA – The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Mr. James David Lalu, has commended Aviation Authorities in Nigeria for a better service delivery to PWDs while they endeavor to travel by air within and outside Nigeria.
Lalu, who gave the commendation when he received in audience the management of the Center for Ability Rehabilitation and Empowerment Foundation CARE in Abuja, appreciated the doggedness of the Organisation in restoring hope for PWD air travellers by working tirelessly at the Disability Desk established at the Airports.
He said; “Today, I celebrate one of our own who through a bitter experience turned around the narrative to a positive one”.
He said that CARE deserves an award of excellence for its significant role in delivering better services to persons with disabilities and promised to give maximum support towards enhancing the project.
Lalu said some staff including Sign Language Interpreters of the Commission will be deployed permanently to the Desk offices to ease the task adding that the Commission will procure more motorized equipment for seamless mobility and boarding of PWDs at Airports.
Speaking in turn, the Executive Director, CARE Foundations, Dr. Chike Okogwu said that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), have put in place some assistive measures to facilitate special consideration for PWDs traveling by Air.
According to Okogwu; “PWDs now have VIP seats, reserved car parking spaces at Airports across the country”.
He recounted the experience of Patience Ogolo Dickson, a PWD who was maltreated by Green Africa airline but, later got full refund and a written apology from the airline, adding that as a result, the Consumer Desk is now very active as handlers at the Airports now assist PWDs get on board easily with their luggage.
Okogwu also said that OXFAM has been providing ambi-lift, surface elevator to aid movement of Wheelchair users at the Airport.
Also speaking, a member of the CARE foundation, Miss Ukachi Cynthia, who is a Person with Albinism, testified to the improved services toward PWDs, adding that persons with Albinism are immediately accompanied to a reserved space away from sunlight as soon as they arrive the Airport.
