On Tuesday, Ogun State Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni declared that persons with disabilities (PWDs) are complete Nigerian citizens and must never be treated as second‑class citizens. The statement came during a meeting at the Command Headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, where the commissioner received the leadership of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, Ogun State Chapter (JONAPWD).
The delegation was led by JONAPWD State Chairman Awobona Ayodele, accompanied by executive members and heads of the association’s various disability clusters. Ayodele described JONAPWD as the umbrella body for PWDs in Nigeria, established in 1992 to advocate for, represent, and promote the rights, welfare and social inclusion of disabled people nationwide.
Ayodele highlighted the unique vulnerabilities faced by PWDs and called for a strategic partnership with the police command. He urged the development of disability management protocols and specialised sensitisation programmes for police officers, stressing the need for training on how to identify and interact appropriately with disabled citizens. The association pledged its continued cooperation and support for the police command.
“Disability does not diminish or strip away the inherent constitutional rights of any individual,” Ojajuni said, emphasising that the command is guided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, and international best practices in human rights enforcement.
To operationalise the commitment, Ojajuni assured the delegation that the command would organise continuous sensitisation and retraining programmes for officers to enhance their capacity, empathy and professional conduct when handling and serving PWDs. He also pledged the police’s support to JONAPWD and confirmed that the police will continue to safeguard the rights, security and well‑being of disabled people across Ogun State.
- Ongoing sensitisation and retraining for police officers on disability matters
- Development of protocols for interacting with PWDs
- Continued partnership and support between JONAPWD and the police command
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
