\”Unknown Statistics\”

Inclusion is a recurrent topic in public discourses across Nigeria. From marginalised ethnic groups to affirmative action for women to other underrepresented groups in socio-political and socio-economic activities in Nigeria. Inclusion issues in Nigeria are unending and broad. But there seem to be insufficient considerations for children, women and other Nigerians living with disabilities. Beyond the deaths and forced displacements, violent conflicts across Nigeria are maiming both young and old people, increasing vulnerabilities and the unknown statistics of children living with disabilities.

The uncertainties around people living with disabilities (PLWDs), especially children, mean that not enough may have been done to support their everyday struggle. Without reliable statistics of children living with disabilities, especially in Nigeria’s conflict-impacted communities, conversations on inclusion in intervention programmes may be less likely. According to the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), young people living with disabilities regularly experience barriers to inclusion in Nigerian society. Their abilities are often overlooked and underestimated, and many times, their needs are not prioritised.

Young Nigerians living with disabilities in conflict zones face double jeopardy. Already, conflict factors have exacerbated human needs in the affected areas. About 8.7 million people require urgent humanitarian assistance. Challenges such as malnutrition, sexual violence, limited access to education, healthcare are recurrent issues of Nigerians directly affected by conflict. This situation will be worse for young people living with disabilities. It may affect their access to education, especially if there is no intervention effort tailored to their specific needs. This may also contribute to Nigeria’s out-of-school children population, one of the highest in the world. For a fact, millions of Nigerian children cannot access education due to cultural, financial and conflict-induced factors. Children living with disabilities also face these factors in addition to the exclusion issues they suffer because of disability.

Intensifying focus on children living with disabilities is a bold step to achieve inclusion for all. As mentioned above, inclusion for children living with disabilities is not as prominent as the inclusion of ethnic groups. Therefore, upscaling conversations and efforts targeted at highlighting and responding to the specific needs of children, especially in conflict zones, portrays commitment towards inclusion. As a policy action, it will help to map out tailored programmes that will help PLWDs in communities emerging from conflict to rebuild their lives and achieve self-reliance.

Increasing specific efforts for specific people. Young Nigerian living with disabilities, especially in conflict areas, require special intervention programmes from the Nigerian government and her development partners. Livelihood intervention programmes should capture the specific needs of PLWDs as it is a bold step towards their inclusion. An increase in intervention efforts for PLWDs will help upscale conversations and policy focus on their inclusion. Additionally, their capacity to be self-reliant and productive members of the society is increased as the intervention efforts will be in the areas of livelihood support, skills acquisition, provision of medical equipment to aid their movement.

There is a need to uncover the arguably unknown statistics. Nigeria ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2007 and its Optional Protocol in 2010. The law prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability and imposes sanctions, including fines and prison sentences, on those who contravene it. In addition to these, there is a need to maintain a robust database of people living with disabilities in the country. In Nigeria’s conflict zones, robust data of children living with disabilities will help the government and donor agencies draw up tailored programmes to support them.