The Centre for Infrastructural and Technological Advancement for the Blind (CITAB) has criticised the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) over its proposed introduction of specialised vehicle plate numbers for persons with disabilities (PWDs), describing the initiative as a misplaced priority that fails to address the pressing needs of the disability community.
The Executive Chairman of CITAB, Comrade Jolomi George Fenemigho, in a statement, said the proposed scheme focuses on a privileged minority of PWDs while overlooking the broader challenges faced by most persons living with disabilities.
Describing the proposed scheme as elitist tokenism,Fenemigho stated that many persons with disabilities in Lagos continue to grapple with unemployment, limited access to healthcare, inadequate housing support and inaccessible public transportation, making the proposed vehicle plate initiative largely irrelevant to their daily realities.
“At a time when countless disabled individuals remain unemployed, without access to free comprehensive healthcare, discounted housing programmes or accessible public transportation, LASODA considers a specialised plate number a priority,” he said.
He argued that an agency established to protect the rights of persons with disabilities should prioritise addressing systemic barriers rather than introducing what he described as cosmetic interventions.
CITAB further contended that the initiative is inherently exclusionary, noting that a large proportion of persons with disabilities do not own private vehicles and rely on public transportation for their daily activities.
“A specialised plate number is of no consequence to a person with a disability who cannot even afford three square meals, let alone a private car,” Fenemigho stated.
The organisation also questioned the practical value of specialised number plates without corresponding investments in public awareness, law enforcement and accessible infrastructure.
According to CITAB, previous initiatives such as disability identification badges have yielded limited results due to inadequate public education and poor implementation.
“This is not the first time we’ve seen similar initiatives fail to make any meaningful difference because society remains largely uninformed and key sectors are completely unaligned,” Fenemigho said.
Rather than pursuing symbolic measures, the organisation urged LASODA and the Lagos State Government to focus on structural reforms that would improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities.
Among its recommendations, CITAB called for increased employment opportunities for persons with disabilities within state and local government institutions, mandatory disability awareness training for transport operators, enforceable accessibility standards for public transportation and infrastructure, and expanded healthcare and housing support programmes.
The organisation also urged the state government to publish a clear roadmap for making public buildings, roads and transport systems accessible, ensure transparency in the management of disability-related funds, and give Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) a formal role in the design, implementation and monitoring of disability policies.
Fenemigho maintained that disability rights should be treated as fundamental human rights rather than privileges available only to those who can afford them.
“Disability rights are fundamental human rights, not luxury privileges reserved for those with deep pockets. We demand comprehensive, enforceable policies that guarantee equal opportunities, dignified living standards and accessible public spaces for all persons with disabilities in Lagos State,” he said.
