Blind association seeks construction of user-friendly roads for members
The National Association of the Blind (NAB) has appealed to the federal and state governments to construct user-friendly roads for its members.
The association also appealed to both private and commercial drivers to respect the blind people on the road, especially when they were with white canes.
The National President of the association, Mr. Stanley Onyebuchi, made this appeal during the celebration of the 2023 International White Cane Safety Day on Wednesday in Enugu.
Onyebuchi expressed concern that most of the roads across the country were constructed without considering accessibility for blind people, saying that this had been endangering their lives.
According to him, accessibility remains a major challenge for people living with disabilities in the country.
“We urge the federal government to prioritise the creation of inclusive environments and infrastructures that cater for the needs of all citizens, regardless of their disabilities.
“This includes accessible transportation systems, public spaces, educational institutions, and workplaces. We must strive for a Nigeria where no one is left behind due to a lack of accessibility,” he said.
According to him, International White Cane Safety Day serves as a platform to raise awareness about the challenges faced by blind and visually impaired individuals and promote their rights and inclusion in society.
“It serves as a reminder that the white cane symbolises independence, confidence, and the ability of the blind to navigate the world around them,” he said.
The NAB president further stated that this year’s celebration provided an opportunity for stakeholders, the government, civil society organisations, and the private sector to discuss strategies to enhance the lives of persons with disabilities.
Speaking at the occasion, the South-East Coordinator of the group, Mr. Onyebuchi Mbah, asked the Enugu State Government to start the implementation of disability law by setting up a disability commission.
Mbah said that the commission would ensure that the welfare of persons with disabilities was enhanced, noting that non-implementation of the law would make it invalid.
The NAB South-East coordinator, who doubles as the chairman of the Joint Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) in Enugu State, expressed regret that many blind people had been killed by motorists who neither observed nor had respect for the white cane.
According to Mbah, the association will continue to engage and educate drivers’ unions in the zone on the need for their members to exercise patience with the blind people on the road.
In her goodwill message, the Executive Director of Heroine Women Foundation and Women Support Women, Mrs. Onyinye Mamah, promised to continue fighting for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the scheme of things.
Supreme News reports that the event, which featured a presentation of white cane by the Amaka Nweke Foundation, was attended by many dignitaries from within and outside the state, including Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma.
