The Federal Government has warned financial institutions that they face closure if they fail to comply with the accessibility law for persons with disabilities (PwDs). This comes after a recent incident involving Chris Agbo, a wheelchair user, who faced discrimination at a bank in Area 3, Abuja, on September 18, due to a lack of ramps and accessible facilities.
Ayuba Gufwan, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), expressed concern over ongoing accessibility challenges despite the existence of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018. This act mandates organisations to provide accessible facilities for PwDs.
Gufwan condemned the repeated discrimination against PwDs, particularly in financial institutions where the lack of ramps prevents them from accessing services like ATMs without third-party assistance, leaving them vulnerable to fraud.
He reaffirmed that the NCPWD will investigate incidents of inaccessibility and prosecute violators of the law. Gufwan emphasized that the law allowed a five-year grace period, which ended last year, for organisations to make necessary modifications. Moving forward, the commission will strictly enforce the law, ensuring that public buildings comply with accessibility requirements or face sanctions.