KFC and Debola Daniel, discriminations against PWDs in Nigeria must stop- Yinka Olaito
“To be a disabled in Nigeria is to be undesirable, unwelcome and unaccepted. As I’ve said before, it is lonely, it is a lonely, scary and isolated place”- Debola Daniels, a PWD
“Being disabled often rolls over my spirit, leaving behind a trail of shattered dignity and forgotten humanity. Nowhere more so than in Nigeria.”- Debola Daniel
The experience of Debola Daniel, a mobility impaired person who uses wheelchair. on March 26, 2024 continues to characterised discriminations many persons with disabilities experience in Nigeria. This is so for especially many with no voice or connection. Debola Daniel happened to be a passenger at Murtala Muhammed Airport this day and while waiting for his flight, he and his family made the choice of going Kentucky Fried Chicken(KFC) within the premise. But according to him, which he made a thread of on his X(twitter) account, a female manager of the service restaurant did not allow him in saying “No wheel chair allowed”.
From March 26, 2024, Debola Daniel had gained media front-page prominence, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) had wielded the big stick by closing the fast food brand because such behaviour contravenes discrimination against person with disabilities law in Lagos state among others. On his part, the executive director of the centre, Yinka Olaito, had through his media appearances and campaign against such inhuman treatment of Debola Daniel, which is just a fraction of many voiceless and unknown persons with disabilities in Nigeria go through.
While on TVC news, Yinka Olaito said the inhumane treatment, discrimination against persons with disabilities is very pervasive and grossly under reported. According to him “The point is there are many Debola Daniels among PWDs in Nigeria that experienced such discrimination daily. The fundamental or root cause of this is ignorance of laws as well as charity, humanitarian approach to PWDs rights. This must stop”.
Noting that many stakeholders are guilty in this area not even the government and its agencies are left out. For instance, Yinka Olaito said Debola Daniel’s flight was delayed (this had become a regular occurrence with no penalty). Also that the elevator was not working made him look at the option of going to KFC.
Speaking on Wave FM Port Harcourt on the same issue, Yinka Olaito said “Government and its agencies must lead by example by making all its buildings accessible”.
Yinka Olaito concluded “Nigerians are good people with good interpersonal, cordial relationships with high sense of respect for their neighbours as well as a high regard for inclusiveness. Whatever had gone wrong must be corrected now”” He also called on the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities to scale up its work too in this area