The Federal Government has warned that it will shut down financial institutions and other establishments that fail to comply with accessibility laws aimed at easing the movement of persons with disabilities (PwDs). This was disclosed by Mr. Ayuba Gufwan, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja.

Gufwan’s comments came in response to an incident on September 18, when a wheelchair user, Mr. Chris Agbo, was reportedly denied access to banking services at a well-known bank in Area 3, Abuja. Agbo was unable to enter the bank or use its ATM due to the lack of ramps, highlighting ongoing challenges faced by PwDs in Nigeria despite the 2018 Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act.

Gufwan condemned the incident, stating that the NCPWD would investigate the case and other similar reports. He emphasized that the commission would prosecute organizations violating the provisions of the law, which mandates that all public and private buildings be accessible to PwDs.

“We will not tolerate any form of discrimination or inaccessibility in both private and public buildings,” Gufwan said. He lamented the fact that many PwDs struggle to access banking services and other facilities due to the absence of necessary infrastructure like ramps. He also noted that PwDs are often forced to rely on third-party assistance, which has led to cases of fraud and theft.

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“It is unfortunate that any bank in this century still lacks suitable access for PwDs,” Gufwan added. “Many PwDs have lost significant sums to fraudsters because they were forced to rely on third parties to use ATMs.”

The NCPWD executive secretary reiterated the commission’s determination to enforce compliance with the law, warning that any organization that fails to provide accessible facilities would face sanctions. He explained that the 2018 law granted a five-year moratorium for existing structures to be modified for accessibility, which ended last year. Now, the commission is focused on strict supervision and enforcement.

“We will ensure that every building serving the public complies with the Accessibility Law,” Gufwan concluded.