Nigeria’s transport system leaves millions behind, limits inclusive mobility

Adebolu Adejobi once stood at the bus stop for two hours, waiting for a kind-hearted bus driver to eventually take him to his destination, as several others refused to let him board their bus because of his disability.

Adejobi, whose motion and posture are affected as a result of his condition, cerebral palsy, is one among millions of Nigerians who have been left out in the country’s transport system.

“I’ve experienced a lot of drivers and bus conductors not wanting me in their vehicle because they presume that I don’t have money to pay, and some passengers think that because I’m sitting close to them, I’m going to be transferring my own disability to them.

“There was a time I tried to board a bus from Allen to Onipanu, and I stood at the bus stop for good two hours that day, and each time I made an attempt to enter every bus that came to that place with passengers, the bus conductors just threw me away. I was forced to order a ride back home that day,” he said.

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Adejobi just wanted to be like every other citizen enjoying the right to access public transport services by taking a bus to his destination instead of spending a lot on taxis.

Africa’s most populous country allocates billions of naira annually to its transport sector, but none of its systems are designed to make transportation inclusive for people with disabilities. Many public transport services, buses, roads, and bridges are still inaccessible.

According to the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), an estimated 35 million Nigerians live with disabilities, yet many public transport services and infrastructure are not designed to meet their needs.

For Vincent Okoh, an educator and disability rights advocate, he often gets dropped at the wrong destination when he travels, spending more than he budgeted for transport fare.

Okoh, who resides in Enugu, told BusinessDay that he faces communication barriers each time he tries to go out, noting that there are no signs at bus parks or on buses to alert drivers when he’s about to get off.

“It is difficult to get drivers’ or bus conductors’ attention. Some drivers refused to allow me to board because of communication barriers; they didn’t understand me. I spent more time and wasted time because of it,” he said.

Across the country, Poor signage, lack of proper wheelchair locks or secure seats, uneven roads and pavements, inaccessible bus stops and terminals, poor pedestrian infrastructure, and lack of ramps and lifts continue to be a major concern for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), making them rely on private taxis or ride-hailing services for convenience, which is usually more expensive.

As a wheelchair user in Anambra State, the challenge begins before Uzoamaka Stella even gets into a vehicle, as many bus stops and terminals are not designed with people with mobility disabilities in mind.

Stella, who is a gender- and disability based advocate in Nigeria, said there are often steps, uneven surfaces, drainage channels, broken pavements and other physical barriers.

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“You can plan a journey, but you cannot be certain that the transport system will accommodate you when you arrive,” she said, describing an experience she had when she was supposed to travel to attend a wedding.

“Because of the transportation challenges, I had to travel a day before that wedding. When I got to the bus stand, the driver told me that I had to pay an additional fare for my wheelchair.

“It was very traumatising. I kept wondering how I’m supposed to pay for myself and then pay separately for my wheelchair,” Stella said.

She said there was a back-and-forth between her and the driver, which made her get off the bus and wait for the next available bus, not certain if she would eventually go.

What the law says for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)

In 2019, late Muhammadu Buhari, former President of Nigeria, signed the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, to end discrimination against PwDs in public infrastructure, education, employment, health care, among others.

Section 10(1) of this Act states that government transport service providers shall provide lifts, ramps, and other accessibility aids to enhance the accessibility of their vehicles, parks, and bus stops for persons with disabilities, including those in wheelchairs.

Subsection (2) states that lifts, ramps, and all other accessibility equipment in or for vehicles, and at parks or bus stops shall be maintained in operational condition.

The Act came with fines and imprisonment for defaulters, and stipulates a five-year transitional period for public buildings and structures to become accessible and usable for PwDs; however, seven years later, the situation is still the same, as persons with disabilities still struggle to access public transportation services in the country.

The Lagos State Government also enacted a disability law in 2011, long before the federal act was signed, but its Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) remains a challenge, especially for wheelchair users.

“There are laws and promises. The challenge is implementation. Having a law is one thing; ensuring that its provisions are reflected in everyday infrastructure and services is another.

“Since the law was signed, persons with disabilities are still asking the same fundamental questions about accessibility,” Stella said.

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A call for inclusive mobility

In several countries, inclusive mobility is treated as a standard by combining universal infrastructure design, digital navigation tools, and participatory policy frameworks that prioritise vulnerable groups like the elderly, low-income commuters, and PwDs.

According to Stella, the discrimination against PwDs affects her independence, noting that transportation should give the freedom to move from one place to another, but she has to depend on people around her to help navigate inaccessible spaces or get into vehicles.

“Sometimes the focus becomes, ‘How do we get Stella into this vehicle? Instead of asking, ‘How should this transport system have been designed so Stella can use it independently?” she said.

Stella urged the government to involve persons with disabilities when transport systems are being designed.

“Accessibility should not be a favour. It should be a standard.

“When transportation becomes accessible, persons with disabilities are not the only people who benefit. Older people, pregnant women, children, people temporarily injured, caregivers and many other members of society benefit too,” she said.

Okoh called on the federal government to provide dedicated budget lines to retrofit older stations, buses, and trains with ramps and elevators, and create advisory boards with PWDs to review all new transit projects before rollout.

He added that transport operators should require all drivers and station workers to learn disability etiquette and assistance techniques.

“An inclusive transport system for persons with disabilities features fully accessible physical infrastructure, universal digital tools, trained personnel, and affordable, integrated options that allow people with diverse physical, sensory, and cognitive needs to travel safely, independently, and with dignity,” Okoh said.

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