The Centre for Infrastructural and Technological Advancement for the Blind has criticized the Central Bank of Nigeria for failing to implement meaningful inclusion for disabled Nigerians in its October 2025 ATM Accessibility Guidelines.
CITAB described the guidelines, which require just two percent of ATMs to have tactile graphic symbols and a listing of accessible locations, as a token gesture that falls far short of genuine accessibility.
Jolomi George Fenemigho, Executive Chairman of CITAB, expressed dismay at the CBN’s guideline, stating that the blind community continues to be marginalized, receiving mere crumbs instead of their rightful place at the table.
“Real accessibility features like audio guidance, Braille instructions, and universally accessible controls continue to be ignored. The guidelines are also notably vague about what total inclusion actually means, offering no practical pathway to making all ATMs accessible for everyone,” Fenemigho said.
He added that by sticking to limited measures and ambiguous language, the CBN continues to keep genuine financial independence out of reach for the disabled community in Nigeria.
Fenemigho stated that tactile features are only an initial step, and meaningful accessibility must go much further.
He noted that audio navigation via headphones, Braille-labeled keypads, high-contrast displays, and user-friendly interfaces are vital to guaranteeing independent banking for the visually impaired.
“If this country is truly committed to inclusion, these innovations must rapidly expand across both urban and rural areas,” Fenemigho stated.
CITAB expressed deep concern over discriminatory practices by some Nigerian banks that routinely deny ATM cards to visually impaired customers or require them to sign indemnity forms or provide sworn affidavits, burdens that sighted customers do not face.
“It is a troubling irony that while banks parade superficial accessibility, many visually impaired Nigerians are still denied access to the very ATM cards that ought to help them. The result is a forced dependency that strips them of privacy, dignity, and financial autonomy, while making a mockery of CBN’s financial inclusion rhetoric,” Fenemigho said.
The organization called on the CBN to issue clear directives to all banks prohibiting such discriminatory practices and to ensure strict enforcement, especially in rural regions where barriers to access are greater.
CITAB also urged the CBN to establish a dedicated disability help desk equipped to collect complaints, monitor institutional compliance, and respond rapidly to accessibility issues nationwide.
“Only genuine accountability, backed by strict penalties for non-compliant banks, can turn the rhetoric of inclusion into reality,” Fenemigho said.
He emphasized that equal access to ATM cards is the bedrock of financial independence, warning that without universal and equitable access to both ATM cards and accessible machines, the promise of inclusive banking will remain empty words.
CITAB reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with the CBN and all relevant stakeholders to foster a financial ecosystem that empowers persons with disabilities.