The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has distributed prosthetic limbs, crutches and wheelchairs to 180 people with disabilities (PWDs) in Borno State.
The commission also gave N50,000 each to 350 PWDs for feeding and transportation back to their homes.
Speaking at the distribution ceremony in Maiduguri yesterday, the commission’s Managing Director, Mohammed Alkali, said the initiative was part of efforts to promote inclusivity and empowerment for people living with disabilities.
“We want to ensure that everyone has access to the resources they need to thrive. These mobility aids will make a significant difference in the lives of our beneficiaries.
“The North East region has been severely impacted by insurgency and displacement, leading to a significant increase in the number of people living with disabilities through bomb blasts and other disasters,” Alkali said.
He expressed concern on the welfare of PWDs in the state, noting that as the commission prioritises the development of the region, it would not fail to include PWDs in its programmes.
According to him, the commission has purchased many assistive devices for the PWDs, and would replicate same gesture in the remaining five states of the North East.
The executive secretary of the National Commission of Persons With Disabilities, Dr James Lando, expressed appreciation to the commission.
