FAAN and Stakeholders Address Aviation Accessibility Issues

An expanded stakeholders’ meeting between the Project Elevate: National Aviation Accessibility Initiative and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) took place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja. This meeting, following an assessment visit on 5th August 2026, aimed to review accessibility challenges in Nigeria’s aviation sector and propose solutions for improving services for passengers with disabilities.

Comrade Abiodun Ozurumba, Team Lead of Project Elevate, praised FAAN's engagement but pointed out barriers such as unhelpful airport personnel, non-functional lifts, steep ramps, and inadequate communication for Deaf passengers. Dr Adebukola Adebayo, a World Bank Consultant, shared his experience of being left unattended for 30 minutes despite priority status and called for an accessibility handbook and disability identification cards.

Architect Ismail Muhammed emphasized the need for visual aids for Deaf passengers. Representatives from airport ground handling companies discussed measures already in place to enhance accessibility.