As part of arrangement to capture persons living with disabilities (PWDs) in the ongoing free bus scheme implemented by Governor Godwin Obaseki to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal on Edo people, the state government has disclosed that some of the additional buses already ordered would come with ramps for easy access for physically challenged persons on wheelchairs.
The managing director, Edo State Transport Authority (ESTA), Edugie Agbonlahor, made the disclosure on Thursday, on the sideline of the close out meeting of the ResilientNet project of the Edo Disability Forum (EDF) powered by National Democratic Institute (NDI).
Agbonlahor, who was represented by the agency’s director of transport planning, George Aghahowa, reiterated the state government’s commitment to the welfare of Edo PWDs hence the procurement of new buses for all inclusive transportation scheme.
“Right now we are in the process of procuring additional 50 units of CNG buses, brown new ones, which are going to be added to the present fleet. That will now make more buses available for the people and what we have thought of at the end of the day is that by the time these buses are coming, we have given specification to the people that is going to handle it that some of these buses should come with ramps; to be accessible to physically challenged, especially those on wheelchairs,” Aghahowa said.
Earlier, the EDF convener, Melody Omosah Esq, called for a sustainable approach to tackling the socioeconomic challenges faced by the PWDs, especially in emergency situations as the post-subsidy regime.
According to Omosah, the state already has a disability law that can only be implemented through a disability commission to further guarantee their social security and inclusion at any given time.
“It is the demand of the (Edo Disability) forum that the commission be inaugurated before the end of this administration,” Omosah said.
On her part, the commissioner for social development and gender issues Christabel Omoh Ekwu, assured the forum that government is “working hard to fully consider and incorporate” PWDs in it scheme of things, especially in the operation ‘Feed the Hungry’ Initiative recently launched by Governor Obaseki as part of efforts to cushion the impacts of current economic hardship on the people.
“We’re also working very hard to see that the disability commission comes to bear and very soon that will be happening,” Ekwu assured.
Highlight of the close out meeting was the X-ray by NDI of the strategies adopted by the forum in the course of their findings as well as recommendations to government in the course of their visits to ministries, departments and agencies to advocate for inclusive governance.
