Julius Ihonvbere, the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, has expressed serious concerns over the non-implementation of the Prohibition Against Persons With Disabilities Act by both public and private sector agencies in Nigeria. Speaking at a public hearing organized by the House Committee on Disability Matters in Abuja on Monday, Ihonvbere emphasized that without a significant change in attitudes toward the law, its effectiveness will continue to be compromised.

The professor of Political Science noted that many Nigerians, including leaders of government agencies, perceive the Act—signed into law in 2018 by former President Muhammadu Buhari—as merely symbolic. He lamented the lack of acknowledgment for the contributions of persons with disabilities to national development, highlighting that the National Orientation Agency is just beginning efforts to raise awareness about the law’s importance.

Quoting a report from the World Health Organization, Ihonvbere pointed out that Nigeria is home to approximately 20 million persons with disabilities, accounting for around 3.9 percent of the global total. He stated, “Until something drastic is done, this Act will just remain on paper and will not be implemented. Not even 5 percent since 2018 has been achieved in trying to implement this Act.”

He further argued that making public spaces accessible is not a complex task: “It is not rocket science to adjust buildings to make accessibility possible.” Drawing a comparison with international practices, he mentioned that enforcement of disability rights is taken seriously in many countries, suggesting that Nigerian authorities need to adopt a similar approach.

Ihonvbere attributed the challenges in implementing the law to a lack of political will from relevant authorities. He proposed amendments to the law, advocating for hefty fines—N10 million for corporate bodies and N2 million for individuals—who violate it, as well as the possibility of imprisonment for offenders.

The House Leader condemned the attitude of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) toward the implementation of the Act, noting that awareness and education regarding the rights of persons with disabilities have been insufficient. “The issue of disability can happen to anybody, anytime and anywhere,” he stated, urging a shift in perspective and action.

The Chairman of the Committee, Bashiru Dawodu, remarked that the public hearing aimed to gather insights from the disability community about the level of implementation of the Disability Act. He acknowledged the pressing need to address the shortcomings in the law’s enforcement to foster a more inclusive society.