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The Lagos state government has convened a high-level stakeholders’ meeting to tackle the resurgence of traffic congestion along the Apapa port corridors, Lekki-Epe axis and Lekki...
The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Prof. Tunji Olaopa, has visited the headquarters of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Bwari,...
Map showing Kano State with Kano highlighted as the state capital The Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking Tuesday said it...
The Ekiti State Executive Council has approved N6.765 billion for the construction of new hospital buildings at the General Hospitals in Ikogosi-Ekiti, Awo-Ekiti and Ipao-Ekiti. The...
A Nigerian cleric wanted by Cameroonian authorities has gone into hiding after a mummified body was discovered buried beneath a concrete slab at a property linked...
A man has sparked widespread outrage after a video emerged online showing him repeatedly flogging a toddler across the head and body. In the footage shared...
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdularasheed Maina, wanted over an alleged case of...
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo has declared that his future with the Portugal national team depends entirely on whether the country still wants him, saying he is...
B The Lagos state government has directed the immediate evacuation of residents living in low-lying and flood-prone communities in the state to prevent loss of lives...
Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in Bayelsa have demanded inclusion in benefits accruing to oil-host communities under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). The PWDs made the demand on Tuesday during a courtesy visit on King Wapaebiama Amakiri, of Obhal-Emeyal Clan, in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state. Speaking during the visit, the coordinator of the group, Mr. Philip Godfrey, said PWDs had been excluded from the Host Community Development Trust Fund benefit structure. Godfrey said there had previously been no Act obligating their inclusion in the benefit structure of the Host Community Development Trust Fund. He commended the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) and Ford Foundation for making the advocacy movement possible. Godfrey said PWDs had been excluded, discriminated against and disconnected for a very long time, despite the PIA being in existence for about five years. He said pollution did not discriminate against anyone, adding that it affected PWDs more than able-bodied persons. The coordinator said PWDs had been excluded for too long and that it was not supposed to be so. He said the law had created an opportunity for PWDs to make their voices heard. According to him, PWDs should benefit from oil exploration because some of them came from oil-producing communities and also suffered the effects of pollution. “PWDs are not feeling among, if we are feeling the pain, we should also feel the benefits of oil exploration because some of us also come from oil producing communities,” he said. Responding, Amakiri said the world had come to recognise that disability did not mean incapacitation, adding that PWDs were disabled but capable. He said the setback associated with disability should no longer be used as a disadvantage against persons living with disabilities. He said gone were the days when PWDs were regarded as beggars on the streets, adding that they could contribute meaningfully to societal development. Amakiri said that, if given the right opportunity, PWDs could contribute meaningfully to the development of society. On the PIA issue, he said he would discuss with fellow traditional rulers in charge of oil-producing communities in the clan. He said they would deliberate on the issue at their meeting, noting that oil pollution affected both able-bodied persons and PWDs.