NCPWD Seeks Inclusion Of PWDs In West Africa Security Operations

The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Hon. Ayuba Burki Gufwan, has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and member countries to integrate persons with disabilities (PWDs) into security sector reforms and governance.

Gufwan said the exclusion of persons with disabilities from security policies, decision-making and humanitarian responses exposed them to heightened risks during conflicts, displacement and security operations.

He made the call while presenting a paper titled “Persons with Disabilities in the ECOWAS Security Sector: Reform and Democratic Governance of the Security Sector” at a Regional Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Democratic Security Sector Reform and Governance, Institutional Stability and Human Security in the Digital Age in Dakar, Senegal.

The commission disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Media and Publicity Unit and signed by Ishaku Kigbu.

The dialogue, which brought together security chiefs, policymakers, civil society organisations and development partners from across West Africa, was themed “Advancing Inclusive Institutions, Democratic Accountability and Human Security in the Digital Age.”

Gufwan identified policy exclusion, vulnerability, and inadequate data and institutional infrastructure as three major challenges confronting persons with disabilities in the region.

He said persons with disabilities were often excluded from ECOWAS peace and security frameworks, security sector reform policies and humanitarian crisis responses.

He also highlighted their vulnerability to violence, neglect, forced displacement, conflicts and abuses during police and military operations.

On data gaps, he said the region lacked standardised disability data collection systems and institutional mechanisms for involving Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in security sector discussions.

The NCPWD boss argued that persons with disabilities should not be treated merely as victims requiring protection but as active participants in policy development, conflict analysis, community peacebuilding and security governance.

“Exclusion often results from environmental, institutional, communication, and attitudinal barriers, not simply from an individual’s impairment. Reform must address both the conduct of security personnel and the systems that determine who can access protection, influence decisions, and seek redress,” he said.

He stressed that disability inclusion should be considered from the perspective of security as a human right, democratic governance and the participation of persons with disabilities as agents of peace and stability.

“Persons with disabilities must not be passive victims but actors in policy development, conflict analysis, community peacebuilding, security research, and public accountability,” Gufwan said.

He identified six areas where persons with disabilities faced particular security challenges, including conflict and displacement, communication barriers, violence and exploitation, access to justice, political exclusion and economic insecurity.

According to him, inaccessible evacuation routes, shelters, transportation and humanitarian distribution centres often prevent persons with disabilities from receiving assistance during emergencies.

He also noted that security alerts and emergency instructions were frequently unavailable in sign language, Braille, audio, plain language and accessible digital formats.

Other concerns included gender-based violence, family separation, inaccessible police stations and courtrooms, inadequate representation in peace negotiations and loss of livelihoods during crises.

To address the challenges, Gufwan proposed six governance principles for disability-inclusive security sector reforms, including legality, civilian oversight, accountability, accessibility and human security.

He called for security institutions to operate within the law, respect human rights and ensure that misconduct, discrimination and abuses were investigated and addressed.

He also stressed the need for accessible security facilities, information, services, technologies and complaint mechanisms.

The objectives of his presentation included examining the participation of persons with disabilities in security sector governance across ECOWAS member states, reviewing existing legal and policy frameworks, and identifying gaps in representation, accessibility, accountability and protection.

Gufwan said Nigeria, through the NCPWD and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, was advancing disability-inclusive governance initiatives, including the National Farm Cities Project and inclusive budgeting.

He said Nigeria was willing to share its experiences and lessons with other ECOWAS member states.

The NCPWD boss urged the ECOWAS Commission, member states and security institutions to adopt the Washington Group Short Set of Questions for disability data collection and make the participation of organisations representing persons with disabilities mandatory in security sector reform processes.

He also called for accessibility audits of security institutions and the establishment of disability desks across police, military and civil defence formation