People with disabilities have decried the distance from the arrival and departure hall to the aircraft at the Gombe Airport.
They also lamented the lack of universally acceptable wheelchairs and unfriendly toilets, describing them as some of the impeding factors affecting their access to the airport.
The PWDs, therefore, urged the state government to domesticate the National Disability Rights Act, to provide an enabling environment to operate.
The National Women Leader for People with Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria and State Chairperson, Fatima Yakubu, said, “The problem we face in Gombe Airport is the distance from the departure to the aircraft.
“Secondly, some of the aircraft are not compliant with the needs of persons with disabilities. They lack things like adequate wheelchairs.
“We are pleading with the government to come to our aid by domesticating the national disability law in Gombe State. The law is important for our well-being.”
Also, the National Chairman of the Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria, Abdulwahab Matepo, said due to the overwhelming security issues, air travel was not only the fastest but safer, lamenting the challenges members faced embarking on aircraft.
“Given the insecurity on our roads, we also want to avoid some of the security challenges. Travelling by air is very problematic for people with disabilities.
“Gombe Airport has limited facilities because it’s still a state government facility. If it were (owned by the) Federal Government, the facility would have been of higher status. I’m happy the government is making an effort at the state level to hand it over but we still appreciate what they have because it has made travelling to Gombe very easy,” he added.
