The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has said that at least five percent of projects and activities in oil and gas explorations in Nigeria should be set aside for the benefit of persons with disabilities in the Host Community Development Trust Fund.
CCD Executive Director, David Anyaele, in a statement on Thursday said that oil and gas explorations in Nigeria are conducted at the detriment of persons with disabilities
He said : “It is justice for all to demand that the Bill for an Act to provide Legal, Governance, Regulatory and Fiscal Framework for the Nigeria Petroleum Industry, the Development of Host Community and other Related Matters (HB.1061)
According to him, virtually all the support given to host communities by reason of oil and gas explorations are not accessible to persons with disabilities and they are not consulted, neither are their issues mainstreamed in the conversation.
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“We are worried that when pollution occurs in the Niger Delta, it is people with disabilities that suffer most.
“Painfully, the activities and contaminants being pushed into the environment as a result of oil and gas explorations in the Niger Delta region, sometime lead to still birth and birth with different form of disability (hearing disorder, blindness, physical challenged etc.)
“Therefore, It is justice for all to demand that the Bill for an Act to provide Legal, Governance, Regulatory and Fiscal Framework for the Nigeria Petroleum Industry, the Development of Host Community and other Related Matters (HB.1061), “ he explained.
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CCD therefore proposed the amendment of the following sections in the Bill to read as follows:
“242: (a) Settlor shall ensure that members of the Board of Trustees are inclusive of women and persons with disabilities
“247. (a.i.b) three representatives, women, person with disability inclusive of the Host Community, who shall be nominated by the Host Community as non-executive members.
“251. 3(a.i.b) consulted with and considered the reasonable concerns of women, youths, persons with disabilities and Community leaders
“252. We request that you add (h) to read as follows: ensure that all initiatives are inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities.”
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