Hope has been rekindled for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and key aviation stakeholders pledged to remove barriers limiting their access to air travel and airport services across the country.
The commitment was made during an expanded stakeholders’ meeting between the Project Elevate: National Aviation Accessibility Initiative and the FAAN team at the office of the Regional Airport Manager, International Wing, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.
The meeting followed earlier assessments of accessibility gaps within Nigeria’s aviation sector and focused on practical measures to make airports more inclusive for passengers with disabilities.
Speaking at the meeting, Team Lead of Project Elevate, Comrade Abiodun Ozurumba, popularly known as Fantastic Bibi, commended FAAN for partnering with the initiative to advance disability inclusion in the aviation industry.
She, however, highlighted persistent challenges faced by persons with disabilities, including poor attitudes by some ground handling personnel, non-functional lifts, steep or blocked access ramps, and inadequate communication systems for Deaf passengers.
Ozurumba urged aviation operators to adopt disability-friendly policies, improve infrastructure and ensure equal access to airport facilities and services.
A World Bank Consultant on Accessibility and member of the blind community, Dr. Adebukola Adebayo, recounted his own experience at the airport, revealing that he was left underneath an aircraft for about 30 minutes despite being accorded priority status.
He also criticised the practice by some airlines of insisting that blind passengers travel with companions, even when they are capable of travelling independently.
Adebayo advocated the development of an aviation accessibility handbook to educate persons with disabilities on available airport services and recommended that the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities issue disability identification cards to prevent abuse of support services.
Representing the President of the National Association of the Deaf, Architect Ismail Muhammed raised concerns over communication barriers confronting Deaf passengers.
He noted that many Deaf travellers miss flights because boarding announcements are made only through public address systems, urging airport authorities to complement audio announcements with visual display screens and sign language interpretation.
Responding, representatives of airport ground handling companies outlined ongoing efforts to improve accessibility.
Precision Aviation Handling Company Limited (PAHCOL), represented by Yahaya Hadi, said the airport now provides designated drop-off points, trolley services, priority processing by Customs and Immigration, automated entrance doors and newly acquired cabin wheelchairs for passengers with mobility challenges.
Similarly, Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO), through its representative Aliyu Sheriff, disclosed that four staircase climbers had been deployed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to assist passengers with disabilities during boarding and disembarkation.
He also proposed stronger collaboration between airlines and the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities through a dedicated WhatsApp communication platform to facilitate advance notification of passengers requiring special assistance.
Manager of Primary Health Care, Oladimeji Sheriff, highlighted operational challenges posed by critically ill passengers who arrive without valid Fit-to-Fly medical certificates.
He explained that such situations often result in boarding delays or outright denial of boarding, adding that relatives sometimes complete check-in and leave without informing airlines or ground handlers that a passenger requires assistance.
According to him, timely notification and strict adherence to existing procedures are essential to ensure passengers with reduced mobility receive adequate support throughout their journey.
The Domestic Terminal Manager of NAIA, Bashir Amir, assured participants that newly installed lifts and escalators at the airport were fully operational, while accessible toilet facilities had also been provided.
He pledged that concerns raised about other facilities, including those at Terminal Delta, would be addressed.
As an immediate intervention, Project Elevate announced plans to donate a 70-inch digital display screen to FAAN for installation at a strategic location within the airport to provide visual travel information for Deaf passengers.
The meeting, chaired by FAAN’s Head of Operations at NAIA, Peter Nuhu, reaffirmed the commitment of aviation stakeholders to sustained collaboration in eliminating barriers and promoting inclusive air travel in line with global best practices.