Anambra state disability right partners with ANSPPB on implementation of law

The Anambra State Disability Rights Commission (ANSDRC), has partnered with Physical Planning Board (ANSPPB), to ensure total implementation of the State Disability Rights law.

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Speaking during the advocacy visit, the Chairman, Anambra State Disability Rights Commission (ANSDRC), Barrister Chukwuka Ezewuzie, who led the delegation, disclosed that the visit was part of their efforts to interface with ministries and agencies and intimate them on operation and provisions of Anambra State Disability Rights Law.

According to Ezewuzie, the disability rights law, was passed and assented to law by the immediate past administration of Willie Obiano, as a domestication of International best practices contained in United Nations charter for People Living with Disabilities (PWDs).

The law also supported internationally approved building codes usable at the United Kingdom which stipulates even the important features to be included in public buildings and roads so that PWD’s can easily access them.

“Subsection 8 of Section 23 of the Disability Rights Law stipulates accessibility features which public buildings designs must possess before they are approved.

“The Interpretation Clause of the State Disability Rights Law explains that public buildings are buildings owned or used by government or made available for public use, such as shopping malls, residential buildings, churches, mosques, among others.

“What we are looking at is for every building design to have a Certificate of no Objection, CNB, which simply means that all requirements in the code are met in terms of accessibility features. If the design conforms with subsection

“We are confident that your Board will ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Code and we will be ready to provide guidance when needed.

“We are confident that your Board will ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Code and we will be ready to provide guidance when needed,” he added.

On their parts, different representatives of the disability commission, Chidimma Anajemba, the Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel and Moses, sign language interpreters, Patricia, the counsellor among others, emphasized the point on other infrastructure used by the public including roads, bridges and many others to be enabled in a way that persons with one form of disability of another can access and use them.

Meanwhile,the Chairman, Anambra State Physical Planning Board (ANSPPB), Barrister Chike Maduekwe, while responding to the team from the Disability Commission in his office at Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area, lauded the initiative to domesticate a Law that comprehensively accommodates the rights of Persons living With Disabilities, noting that with the Law, a lot of best practices will be adhered to.

“Your visit today is an eye opener, and we will run with it, because there are a whole lot of things we need to begin to do differently in terms of how infrastructures are built in the state.

“Mr Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo has always maintained his vision of building a liveable and prosperous smart mega city. This homeland should be one that every member of the society must be able to access and benefit from, irrespective of social status, physical disability and otherwise,” he said.

Barr Maduekwe assured that he will draw the attention of the State Excutive Council to critical aspects especially subsection 5 of section 23 of the disability rights law ,which the Commission is seeking attention on.He expressed optimism that with the disposition of the governor to the well-being of every Anambra resident, the Commission’s demands will get favourable attention.

“In the interim, every government building must submit their building plans to the agency for approval, to ensure compliance with the Law and other building codes, and to ensure inclusivity,this we need to do immediately.

“The wonderful work the Commission has done through its leadership headed by Barr Ezewuzie, is quite amazing and I am not surprised at what the Commission has been able to accomplish for persons living with disabilities.

“We will work together and I know that when the governor sees the need we are bringing to the fore, he will approve them.

“These are things that will improve the quality of life of Anambra people. So your visit here is an act of God and we will act accordingly,” Maduekwe stated.

The presentation of copies of the Disability Rights Law to the Chairman, Anambra State Physical Planning Board (ANSPPB) by the Chairman, Anambra State Disability Rights Commission (ANSDRC), climaxed the occasion.