The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has unveiled a research report examining the impact of climate change on Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), calling for its recommendations to be implemented across Nigeria.
The Acting Director of CCD, Mr Godwin Unumeri, made the call during the public presentation of the report, titled “Disability-Inclusive Greenhouse Gas Emission and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Nigeria,” in Lagos on Wednesday.
Unumeri said effective implementation would require sustained collaboration, strong policy commitment, adequate funding and coordinated action across sectors. He noted that recommendations from a stakeholder validation workshop held in February had been incorporated into the report.
The General Manager of the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, urged stakeholders to translate the findings into practical interventions and ensure that PWDs were adequately represented in climate policies, programmes, funding and response strategies.
CCD Programme Officer, Christiana Njoku, urged the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) to review the 2021 Climate Change Act to strengthen the inclusion and representation of PWDs. She also called for collaboration between NCPWD, LASODA and first responders to conduct accessibility audits of emergency shelters.
Njoku further urged organisations of persons with disabilities and civil society groups to properly document climate-related challenges affecting PWDs, saying reliable documentation would provide policymakers with a clearer roadmap for developing inclusive responses.
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