By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has pledged support for 31.5 million Nigerians living with disabilities and to dimesticate the Disabilitiies Prohibition Act to ensure compliance.
Bello made this pledge when the management of National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, NCPWD, led by the Executive Secretary Mr James Kaku visited the FCTA.
The minister said that the support is to enable NCPWD fulfil its mandate of caring for Nigerians living with disabilities.
The minister said, “the Federal Capital Territory Administration is part of the federal government. So, considering fact that the Bill on persons with disabilities has been signed by Mr President, I assure you that the FCT Administration will follow the procedure as quickly as possible and domesticate it here in the FCT and we will see specific aspects of the Act that we need to make sure we honour and follow.”
He informed the management of the NCPWD that efforts were being put in place to make Abuja an inclusive city that will cater for the needs of persons with physical challenges.
The Minister also congratulated Mr Lalu for his appointment as the Executive Secretary of the Commission describing it as a square peg in a square hole.
Lalu commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Bill and the establishment of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities.
Present at the meeting were the Chief of Staff to the Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, the Ag Secretary of the Socila Development Secretariat DR Kevin Ike, the Director, SDG, Ms Nancy Nathan and other senior staff of the FCTA.
