By: Joshua Weng Chuwang
An estimate of 35 million Nigerians are living with disabilities. This is according to a recent demographic dataset by the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD).
The figure was released in a press conference held in Abuja to present its report titled “Assumptive Demographic Data on Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria” in a bid to analyze the size 9f Persons living with disabilities across the country.
JONAPWD president, Comrade Abdullahi Aliyu Usman, explained that the estimate was derived using the global benchmark that places persons with disabilities at 15 per cent of every national population, applied to Nigeria’s 2025 population projections by the National Population Commission.
According to the analysis, Kano State records the highest estimated population of persons with disabilities at approximately 2.5 million, followed by Lagos State with about 2.1 million.
Gender analysis of the report suggests that male persons with disabilities account for slightly over 17.6 million individuals, while female persons with disabilities are estimated at approximately 17.2 million.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Mohammed Abba Isa, spoke at the event, emphasizing that the dataset was needed in order to close the gap of inadequate data regarding persons with disabilities.
The secretary of the National Population Commission, Adeiyi Onah Daniel at the event said the commission had endorsed the data, urging government agencies and other stakeholders to use it in designing their programmes.
