AWKA/Nigeria: The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has called on the government and oil companies to ensure that persons with disabilities (PWDs) are included in the socio-economic benefits of the petroleum sector.
Mr. Godwin Unumeri, Acting Director of CCD, made the call on Wednesday in Awka during a three-day workshop on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, organised by the centre and sponsored by the Ford Foundation.
The workshop, themed “Ending Barriers Against Niger Deltans with Disabilities,” highlighted concerns over the continued exclusion of PWDs in the implementation of the PIA across the oil-producing regions.
Unumeri lamented that the PIA 2021 did not provide specific structures for the inclusion of PWDs, despite the socio-economic and environmental impact of oil exploration on their lives. He stressed that states such as Anambra, which recently joined the league of oil-producing states, must prioritise disability-inclusive policies.
“Anambra recently became an oil-producing state, promising more revenue, projects and job creation. But there are rising concerns about environmental degradation and exclusion of people with disabilities. PWDs are majorly affected by oil exploration, yet they are not included in the PIA benefit structure. The goal of this workshop is to develop a charter of demands to ensure equal opportunities in employment, training, community projects and decision-making processes,” he said.
Also speaking, Ms. Florence Attah, Senior Programme Officer at CCD, described disability as a long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairment which, when combined with barriers, can hinder full participation in society. She emphasised that CCD remains committed to advancing disability rights and development through advocacy and capacity building.
In his remarks, Anambra State Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Mr. Anthony Ifeanya, represented by Mr. Christian Obiadi, acknowledged the importance of inclusivity in ensuring sustainable economic prosperity. He noted that the outcome of the workshop would guide the government towards adopting a disability-inclusive framework in the state.
Similarly, Mr. Okafor Amanke, Chairman of Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (Anambra Chapter), underscored the need for equitable management of oil resources, while Mr. Ugochukwu Okeke, Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD), Anambra Chapter, commended CCD for championing the fight for inclusivity.
“With this workshop, we will be equipped with the right knowledge to engage effectively and ensure our inclusion in the PIA,” Okeke said.
