January 8, 2025
Centre for Disability and Inclusion Africa Launches #WheelChairNotLuggage Campaign
The Centre for Disability and Inclusion Africa (CDIA) has officially launched the #WheelChairNotLuggage campaign, a crucial initiative aimed at tackling the widespread human rights abuses faced by mobility-challenged individuals in Nigeria. This campaign serves as a call to action for a shift in attitudes and behaviors among transport providers, particularly public bus and taxi drivers, who have long subjected wheelchair users to various forms of mistreatment. These abuses include refusal to transport people with mobility challenges, inhumane treatment, and even additional charges for the transportation of wheelchairs when accepted.
Yinka Olaito, Executive Director of CDIA, emphasized that this campaign is long overdue, highlighting the years of silence and suffering endured by many individuals with mobility challenges who rely on wheelchairs. According to Olaito, both public transportation services—such as buses, taxis—and airline operators have either been unaware or deliberately malicious in their treatment of wheelchair users. This must end, he stressed.
“The Nigerian Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Law (2018) is clear on these matters,” Olaito stated. “It prohibits any form of abuse or inhumane treatment based on a person’s body structure. A wheelchair is a personal mobility aid, not luggage. Refusing to board someone using a wheelchair or treating the wheelchair as luggage is not only discriminatory, but also a criminal offense under the law.”
Olaito called on transport association leaders across the country to hold their members accountable, ensuring that such discriminatory practices stop immediately. He also urged stakeholders in the disability inclusion sector to lend their voices in condemning these injustices. “There is no equity in a society where one group continues to be openly mistreated,” he added.
The launch of the #WheelChairNotLuggage campaign marks the first step in a broader effort to end these abuses, with additional activities planned in the coming months to ensure full compliance with disability rights.
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For Further Inquiries
Tunde Okunlola
Communications Associate
info@cdinclusionafrica.org
Centre for Disability and Inclusion Africa
5 Afisman Drive, Off Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja
#WheelChairNotLuggage Campaign
