CCD rates Lagos NSCDC high on protection of rights of Persons With Disabilities and solicits more support for the Command …

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ), Lagos State Command gathered, its personnel comprising senior officers, desk officers and first – time participants to learn, unlearn and relearn about the rights of Persons With Disabilities ( PWD ), amongst other relevant topics, yesterday, Thursday, 23rd, January, 2025.

The training was a one – day event aimed, at bringing relevant stakeholders in this sector, to meet with the personnel of the Command, for the purpose of sharing and impacting knowledge and forging ways forward, in the on how best to relate, various clusters in our communities.

The Lagos State Commandant, Mr Adedotun Keshinro was ably, represented, by Deputy Commandant of Corps Jimoh Sulaiman, Head of Administration Department. The Lagos State Commandant advocated, for much more inclusion of Persons With Disabilities, from Government, relevant stakeholders, religious organizations, associations, and well meaning citizens of our dear country, Nigeria. He further said that the Command will not relent on its oarse, but will keep ensuring the protection of the various clusters in this sector.

The Head of the PWD unit in Lagos State Command, Assistant Commandant of Corps Adeniyan Bolanle seized, the opportunity, to appreciate the State Commandant, for approving the training especially, at the begining of the new year. She said that this further went to show the Commandant’s unflinching passion and position, towards the matters regarding the inclusion and protection of PWDs in the state. She charged, participants to take the training very seriously and use the take aways from the training to train others so as to ensure that together we are all able to reduce crimes and criminality in this sector, amidst others.

The Chief State Counsel, Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs ( LASODA ), Barrister Safiu Babatunde, expressly, affirmed, while delivering his lecture that there are spelt out penalties in the law, against those who disregard or trample upon the rights of Persons With Disabilities, in our society and efforts are ongoing to ensure the effectiveness of the law so that culprits can be made to face the wrath of the law.

The representative of the Director of Centre for Citizens with Disabilities ( CCD ), Miss Christiana Njoku, in her statement, during the panel session, further noted that the Lagos State Command of the Corps deserves to be rated high in the way they have shown support for PWDs in the state. She most especially, recalled, the Centre’s encounter with the the State Commandant, Mr Adedotun Keshinro, who pledged his support and made it possible for the unit to thrive, by establishing desk
officers across all formations under the State Command.

The issues surrounding recognition and response to Gender Based Violence ( GBV ), against Persons With Disabilities, including women was also discussed, by Miss Stella Osho, from Centre for Women’s Health and Information. She also alerted, participants that one of the ways to curb this menace is also to report these cases timely and promptly, so as to bring succour to victims and punish offenders, in a bid to rid our society of criminal minded individuals.

The National President, Association for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities of Nigeria ( AIDDN ), Mrs Joko Omotola, the Chairman, Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities ( JONAPWD ), Lagos State, Barrister Bola Salami were also present as speakers and panelists.

Other speakers include; Deputy Commandant of Corps Evans Emmanuel ( Administration Department ), the Head of Legal Unit, Assistant Commandant of Corps Adebimpe Bada, the Head of Gender Based Violence unit, Superintendent of Corps Kuku Abimbola, the moderator of the panel session, Superintendent of Corps Oluwaseun Abolurin, Public Relations Officer and Deputy Superintendent of Corps Irinoye Olufemi, compere of the event.