Nigeria's Transport System Fails Persons with Disabilities

In Nigeria, the transport system inadequately serves millions of people with disabilities, as illustrated by Adebolu Adejobi, who experienced rejection from bus drivers due to his cerebral palsy. He waited two hours at a bus stop, only to be denied entry multiple times, forcing him to resort to an expensive taxi ride.

The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) estimates that 35 million Nigerians live with disabilities, yet public transport services remain largely inaccessible. Vincent Okoh, an educator and disability rights advocate, faces communication barriers when traveling, often being dropped at incorrect locations due to a lack of signage and understanding from drivers.

Uzoamaka Stella, a wheelchair user in Anambra State, encounters challenges at bus stops and terminals that are not designed for mobility disabilities. The overall infrastructure, including poor signage, lack of wheelchair locks, and inaccessible bus stops, exacerbates the difficulties faced by persons with disabilities, compelling them to rely on more costly private transport options.