Ado Ekiti House of Representatives Spokesman and member for Ekiti North Constituency I, Hon. Akin Rotimi, has renewed calls for the strict enforcement of Nigeria’s disability rights law, warning that continued neglect of accessibility standards in public buildings undermines the dignity and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Rotimi made the appeal at the flag-off ceremony of a prosthetic limb support programme for 131 beneficiaries in Ado Ekiti, where he stressed that despite the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2019 coming into force in January 2024, many banks, eateries, religious centres and other public facilities have failed to comply.
The lawmaker reminded stakeholders that the Act, which prohibits discrimination against PWDs, prescribes heavy penalties for violations—N1 million for corporate bodies, and N100,000 fine or six months’ imprisonment, or both, for individuals.
He commended the Ekiti State Government for being proactive, noting that new state-owned public buildings have adhered to required standards, unlike many elsewhere in the country. Rotimi added that he has already proposed a repeal and reenactment of the Act to strengthen enforcement and close existing gaps.
“Awareness remains low. From the local governments to the national level, many are still unaware of the provisions of this law. Without sensitisation and enforcement, compliance will remain weak,” he said.
Beyond the prosthetic limb distribution, Rotimi also unveiled legacy projects for PWDs in his constituency, including a Motherless Babies’ Home, a School for Children with Special Needs, and a Specialty Health Centre for the Critically Disabled.
Ekiti State First Lady, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, who graced the event, praised the initiative while reaffirming the state’s commitment to inclusivity. She pointed to the administration’s unprecedented employment of PWDs in government and progressive policies aimed at making Ekiti a national model of equal opportunity.
Her remarks linked the state’s vision to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the compassion-driven leadership of First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, “whose heart for the vulnerable continues to inspire the nation.”
