Rights group slams FG over year-long closure of blind  vocational school

The Centre for Infrastructural and Technological Advancement for the Blind (CITAB) has condemned the federal government for keeping the Nigerian Farmcraft Centre for the Blind in Lagos — the only federal vocational training school for visually impaired Nigerians — shut for over a year.

The centre, which operates under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction led by Dr. Betta Edu, has remained locked since 2024, with no official explanation or timeline for reopening.

Speaking in Lagos, CITAB Executive Director Jolomi George Fenemigho accused the ministry of neglecting its legal and moral responsibilities. He questioned whether the government would tolerate such prolonged closure if it were any other federal educational institution.

“Imagine a federal university in Nigeria left closed for a full year — there would be headlines, emergency actions, and nationwide outrage. But when it concerns persons with disabilities, the urgency fades away and silence becomes the default response,” Fenemigho said.

Fenemigho argued that the continued closure breaches Section 5(1) of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, which guarantees the right to education and vocational training for persons with disabilities.

He also cited Section 24 of the Act, which mandates government agencies to promote inclusion for people living with disabilities, accusing the ministry of doing the opposite.

“Shutting the doors for over a year sends a dangerous message — that what is being empowered is government indifference. Ministries should be promoting inclusion, not perfecting exclusion,” he said.

READ ALSO: Tinubu appoints boards for NCC, USPF to drive digital inclusion, telecom sector growth

The CITAB chief criticised what he described as “mixed signals” from government authorities, noting that while blind Nigerians are urged to acquire vocational skills instead of begging, the only federal facility dedicated to their training remains inaccessible.

“It’s like asking people to run a race but keeping the stadium locked,” he said.

Fenemigho urged the National Assembly and the House Committee on Disability Matters to summon Dr. Betta Edu and demand an immediate reopening of the centre.

“The law is not optional. Sections 5 and 24 are crystal clear — no more excuses. Open the doors and stop playing with people’s futures,” he declared.

He concluded by stressing that while blind Nigerians may not see the government’s neglect, they feel its impact daily.

“It’s time to turn the light back on. No more hiding behind empty promises,” he said.