The Borno State House of Assembly has commenced broader stakeholder engagement on the proposed Borno State Persons with Disability Bill, 2026, seeking contributions from disability-focused organisations and other stakeholders as the state considers a new legal framework for the protection, inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
The one-day stakeholders’ roundtable, held on Wednesday at Prime Lodge and Apartment Hotel in Maiduguri, brought together lawmakers, disability stakeholders and organisations with experience working on disability-related issues. The engagement provided an opportunity for participants to examine the proposed legislation and make recommendations based on the lived experiences and challenges of persons with disabilities in the state.
The roundtable was chaired by Hon. Abba Kyari Abba Kolo, Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee on the Disability Bill and Member representing Jere Constituency.
In his remarks, Kolo described the consideration of the Bill as an important opportunity to strengthen the legal and institutional mechanisms for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities in Borno State.
He said persons with disabilities are an integral part of society and should have equal opportunities to participate in public and community life.
According to him, achieving meaningful inclusion requires collective action to address barriers limiting access to education, healthcare, employment, economic opportunities, political participation, public facilities and essential services.
The lawmaker also emphasised the importance of ensuring that those directly affected by disability-related barriers have an opportunity to contribute to the development of legislation intended to protect their rights.
The stakeholder engagement therefore served not only as a consultation on the proposed Bill but also as a platform for disability organisations and individuals with relevant experience to identify areas requiring greater attention and propose recommendations that could strengthen the legislation.
What the proposed Bill provides
The Borno State Persons with Disability Bill, 2026 seeks to establish a legal framework for the protection, inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities across the state.
Among its key provisions is the proposed establishment of the Borno State Board for Persons with Disabilities, which would provide an institutional structure for addressing disability-related matters and supporting the implementation of the state’s disability policies and programmes.
The Bill also seeks to provide for other matters connected with the rights, welfare and participation of persons with disabilities.
The proposed legislation comes at a time when disability inclusion increasingly requires governments to move beyond welfare-based approaches towards frameworks that recognise persons with disabilities as rights holders and active participants in development.
For Borno State, where years of conflict and humanitarian challenges have created complex social and economic pressures, effective disability legislation could have implications for access to services, livelihoods, public infrastructure and civic participation.
Lawmakers, stakeholders examine inclusion
The engagement was attended by the Leader of the House, Hon. Dige Mohammed, who represented the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly.
Other lawmakers present included Hon. Mohammed Ali Gajiram, Hon. Ibrahim Mohammed Kwajaffa, Hon. Baba Mala Bukar and Hon. Karta Maina Ma’aji Lawan.
Their participation alongside disability stakeholders underscored the legislative nature of the engagement and the Assembly’s effort to obtain input before advancing the proposed legislation.
For disability advocates, such consultations can be particularly significant because the effectiveness of disability legislation often depends not only on the rights and protections contained in the law but also on whether implementation mechanisms reflect the realities faced by persons with disabilities.
Issues such as physical accessibility, inclusive education, healthcare, employment, social protection, economic participation and representation therefore remain central to translating legislative commitments into practical outcomes.
The Maiduguri roundtable ultimately reaffirmed the stated commitment of the Borno State House of Assembly and participating stakeholders to developing a more inclusive and accessible state.
