Odumosu Seeks Full Disability Act Enforcement

The Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Dr. Olusola Odumosu, has called for the full implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, to guarantee the protection, safety, and well-being of all persons with disabilities.

Odumosu made the call in Abuja on Wednesday while presenting a paper titled “Inclusive Protection in Nigeria: Why We Must Act Now” at the 2025 National Convention of Sign Language, organized by the Abuja Association of the Deaf.

He stressed that protection is a fundamental right of every citizen regardless of ability, but lamented that persons with disabilities continue to face multiple barriers to safety, access to justice, and participation in national life.

“Inclusive protection is a comprehensive approach that ensures the safety, rights and well-being of all individuals within a society, particularly the vulnerable groups. Nigeria has begun taking steps toward inclusive protection, but in practice, there are still significant gaps between policy and reality,” Odumosu said.

The FCT Commandant highlighted the challenges faced by the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, including communication barriers, stigma, and inadequate institutional support, which, according to him, further compound their vulnerability.

While commending Nigeria’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the passage of the 2018 Act, he expressed concern that disability clusters remain excluded from key areas such as security, justice, and emergency response.

“The law exists, but it is very concerning that many public buildings, offices, and utilities are still not accessible to persons with disabilities. The urgent task before us is to move from policy to practice so that no Nigerian is left behind in matters of safety and security,” he said.

Odumosu identified weak implementation, cultural stigma, lack of funding, limited awareness among security personnel, underreporting of crimes due to communication barriers, and inadequate protection frameworks as persistent obstacles.

He assured that the NSCDC FCT Command is committed to bridging these gaps.

“As an agency mandated to protect critical national assets, prevent crimes, and safeguard communities, NSCDC remains committed to promoting inclusive protection. We have trained 250 of our personnel in sign language to break barriers and communicate effectively with the deaf and hard-of-hearing. This is a vital commitment to ensuring that their voices are heard and understood,” he noted.

The commandant further explained that training, retraining, and creating disability desk officers form part of his strategy to build a modern, responsive, and inclusive security outfit capable of meeting the evolving needs of society.

He pledged to deepen community engagement with disability groups, integrate inclusivity into security campaigns, and leverage trained personnel to improve mediation and rapid response during crises.

While emphasising that inclusive protection is a right, not a favour, Odumosu said, “If we must truly build a peaceful and secure society, we cannot afford any group, especially persons with disabilities, to be excluded or discriminated against. Every day of delay exposes vulnerable groups to preventable risks. The time to act is now.”

The Commandant urged all stakeholders from government to civil society and community leaders to work together to foster a society where every individual is valued and treated equally.