Disability rights advocates, government officials, and media practitioners have called for urgent action to measure and enforce accessibility standards in Nigeria’s aviation sector, revealing that most airports fall below five percent compliance with disability inclusion requirements.
The demand came during a virtual stakeholder engagement session held on accessibility audits and compliance in aviation, organised by Inclusion Frontier as part of its Project Elevate initiative to promote disability-inclusive aviation systems.
Panelists at the session stressed that accessibility cannot be based on good intentions or policy documents alone but must be demonstrated
Stakeholders Demand Action as Nigeria’s Aviation Sector Fails Accessibility Standards
Disability rights advocates, government officials, and media practitioners have called for urgent action to measure and enforce accessibility standards in Nigeria’s aviation sector, lamenting that most airports fall below five percent compliance with disability inclusion requirements.
The demand came during a virtual stakeholder engagement session held on accessibility audits and compliance in aviation, organised by Inclusion Frontier as part of its Project Elevate initiative to promote disability-inclusive aviation systems.
Panelists at the session stressed that accessibility cannot be based on good intentions or policy documents alone but must be demonstrated through measurable evidence and ‘genuine passenger experience’.
Comrade Chris Abgo, a wheelchair user and Executive Director of the Qualitative Magazine, emphasised that accessibility is a human right, not charity, and that the gap between government commitments and actual implementation remains the core problem in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
“Accessibility is not about just claiming it. It’s about it being measurable. We have laws, policies, and public statements, yet many persons with disabilities continue to encounter barriers at airports across the country,” Abgo said.
He pointed to a specific case where a passenger with reduced mobility was denied boarding at Lagos airport because the ambulift was not available, forcing him to use calipers to climb stairs to board his flight.
Sir Gilbert, an estate surveyor identified passenger satisfaction as the key metric for measuring accessibility, emphasising that staff reorientation and training are essential components of genuine inclusion.
He described a stark contrast between Nigerian airports and international facilities, noting that while foreign airports have elevators and proper facilities to assist persons with disabilities, Nigerian airports lack basic infrastructure and often rely on manual assistance.
Dr. Chik Okogwu, Founder, Centre for Ability Rehabilitation and Empowerment in Nigeria (CARE) and disability rights expert, delivered an assessment report of accessibility across Nigeria’s aviation sector, stating that most airports operate at less than five percent compliance with accessibility standards.
He highlighted that Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MM2) is almost accessible only for wheelchair users but remains inaccessible for persons with visual impairments and other disabilities.
Dr. Okogwu called for a “name and shame” campaign using mainstream and social media to pressure regulators and airlines into compliance, suggesting that public exposure through television stations could drive meaningful change.
He criticised the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FANI), the civil aviation regulator, for dropping the ball on accessibility enforcement and called for pressure on the agency to renovate all airports and provide necessary equipment.
Dr. Okogwu emphasised the need for inclusive budgeting across all ministries and agencies involved in aviation, rather than concentrating responsibility solely on the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD).
“We need inclusive budgeting such that the Ministry of Aviation, FANI, the National Civil Aviation Authority, and all agencies under aviation have components of their budgets dedicated to persons with disabilities,” he stated.
He also called for litigation as a strategy to enforce compliance, suggesting that disability rights lawyers should pursue court cases against airlines and airports to establish precedent and impose financial penalties.
Mr. Bitrus Sule, Director of Accessibility at NCPWD, acknowledged the commission’s constraints and committed to continuing sensitisation efforts and accessibility audits to free the aviation industry from barriers.
However, he acknowledged that “budget limitations restrict the commission’s ability to address all accessibility challenges comprehensively”.
Comrade Chris Abgbo stressed that media practitioners across all sectors must develop an understanding of disability inclusion issues, not just those assigned to cover disability stories.
He argued that “accessibility should become part of organisational culture rather than mere compliance, and that every journalist covering aviation, security, politics, or other sectors should ask critical questions about disability inclusion”.
Agbo referenced the successful outcome of media pressure in a case involving a fast food restaurant at Lagos airport that initially denied entry to a person using a wheelchair, leading to the company’s apology following media coverage.
Miss Uchenna Maduake, a disability rights advocate and special education teacher, emphasised that accessibility measurements must be grounded in the lived experiences of different types of disabilities, as what constitutes accessibility for one group may differ significantly from another.
She stressed that persons with disabilities must be involved in designing, implementing, and monitoring accessibility audits to ensure that all forms of disabilities are adequately addressed.
Participants highlighted critical gaps in Nigeria’s aviation sector, including the absence of accessible emergency evacuation procedures, inadequate staff training on disability etiquette, inaccessible websites and ticketing systems, lack of accessible toilets, and insufficient accessible transportation between terminals and aircraft.
The discussion revealed that many aviation staff members are untrained on disability inclusion and lack understanding of accessibility requirements under existing laws and policies.
Panelists noted that the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act and the National Civil Aviation Policy contain provisions on accessibility, yet many regulators and operators remain unaware of these legal obligations.
The session highlighted the need for strategic partnerships between disability organisations, media, government regulators, airlines, and airport operators to move from verbal commitments to measurable implementation of accessibility standards.
