Disability Advocates Urge Ogun Governor to Enforce Law

The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) and the Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria (SCIAN) held a press briefing on Wednesday at the NUJ Hall, Iwe Iroyin House, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, calling on Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun to fully implement the state’s Disability Law, which was signed by former governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun on December 27, 2017. Nearly nine years after its enactment, the law has not been fully operationalized, leaving persons with disabilities without necessary protections and accessible public systems.

Abdulwahab Matepo, National President of SCIAN, and Ayo Awobona, Chairman of JONAPWD Ogun State chapter, emphasized that the law must be enacted in practice, not just on paper. They reported ongoing efforts since 2025 to engage the state government for implementation, which have yielded no results.

The groups stressed that discussions on amendments should not delay the law's operationalization, advocating for immediate action to address the needs of over 1 million persons with disabilities in Ogun State.