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By Joe Apu
Scores of visually impaired persons yesterday obstructed free flow of traffic on the busy local wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) in Ikeja, Lagos, as they protested the closure of their schools for over two years.
The gridlock caused by the protest left many who ply the route inwards and outwards the airport stranded as vehicular movement was brought to a standstill and many had to walk from toll gate to the local airport to catch their flights or get to their destination at Ikeja.
Following the development, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) issued a travel advisory for passengers travelling to and from the MMA in Lagos.
It read in parts: “Due to an ongoing protest by the Farmcraft Centre for the Blind, traffic congestion is currently impacting access roads to the airport.
“To minimise disruptions, we advise that passengers should check traffic updates before departing for the airport, confirm flight status with their airline for any schedule changes and use alternative routes where possible to avoid heavily congested areas.”
FAAN apologised for any inconvenience caused by the traffic congestion and appreciated passengers’ patience and understanding, urging them to travel safely and stay informed.
The protesters called on the Federal Government to urgently reopen the Nigerian Centre for the Blind (NFCB) School shut in 2024 over alleged lack of funds.
Established in 1957, the institution had provided education and vocational training for visually impaired individuals. Its closure has left both students and graduates without vital opportunities, plunging many into unemployment and economic hardship.
Among those affected are graduates, including a mass communication student, who said they have been unable to secure jobs or support their families despite completing training at the school.
The demonstrators were also demanding financial assistance or salaries for graduates, arguing that the vocational skills acquired at the centre were not translating into employment in the open labour market.
“Our school has been shut for over two years despite repeated appeals to the government,” the group’s spokesperson said.
The protesters said the government’s failure has denied them educational opportunities, forcing many disabled persons to resort to street begging.
Mrs. Ayomide Lawal, a graduate of Mass Communication, who worked at the Nigeria Farmcraft Centre For the Blind (NFCB) lamented that she became jobless because the school had been shut down since last year by the Federal Government for no reason.
“I’ve been submitting my CV, applying for jobs but haven’t gotten any response. How do I take care of my family if I can’t earn a living?” she queried.
She also noted that even those who trained vocationally do not get patronage and many others who attended the protest urged the government to reopen the school immediately, pay them well and provide job opportunities.
“There are some of us that are graduates without jobs. Most of us do professional training without anybody patronising them. The Federal Government gave an excuse that it was due to lack of funds that’s why they shut it down. It is the only school for people with disabilities in Nigeria,” Segun Layowa stated.
