United Disability Network

14/07/2026

PRESS STATEMENT / ADVOCACY LEAFLET

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SKILLS, NOT SHACKLES: UNITED DISABILITY NETWORK CALLS FOR AN END TO THE ILLEGAL DETENTION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES BY LAGOS STATE KAI, DEMANDS SUSTAINABLE VOCATIONAL SOLUTIONS
LAGOS, NIGERIA– The United Disability Network strongly condemns the ongoing mass arrest, profiling, and prolonged detention of over 400 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) currently held in the custody of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC/KAI). While the Network acknowledges the Lagos State Government’s desire to maintain urban order, treating economic vulnerability caused by systemic neglect as a criminal offense is a gross violation of human dignity.
Many of these individuals have been detained for weeks without trial. This is a direct violation of Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which mandates that any person suspected of an offense must be charged to a court of competent jurisdiction within 24 to 48 hours or be released. Furthermore, this heavy-handed approach violates the Lagos State Special People’s Law, the National Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, and international treaties such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), to which Nigeria is a proud signatory. PWDs are citizens; they are not lesser human beings and must be accorded the exact same constitutional protections as any other Nigerian.

The True Crisis: Poverty, Not Criminality,
Street begging is not a lifestyle choice; it is a symptom of extreme economic exclusion, lack of accessible education, and systemic unemployment. Rounding up vulnerable citizens, detaining them indefinitely under sub-human conditions, or preparing them for forced "repatriation" does not solve the problem—it merely hides it from public view while compounding the trauma of an already marginalized community.
Our Position: The Long-Lasting Solution
The United Disability Network asserts that criminalization is an expensive, failed deterrent. The only sustainable, dignified, and long-lasting solution to street begging is economic empowerment.
We demand that the Lagos State Government immediately shift from a punitive model to a rehabilitative and developmental model by implementing the following:
Immediate Release or Arraignment:

Release all PWDs currently held beyond the constitutionally permitted timeframe by KAI, or immediately present them before a court with full access to legal representation.
Comprehensive Vocational & Skills Training:
Transform state rehabilitation centers from detention spaces into active hubs for technical, digital, and vocational training tailored to the capabilities of PWDs.

Take-Off Grants & Micro-Credit Schemes:** Instead of funding continuous, costly taskforce raids, the state should reallocate resources toward providing startup grants, assistive technologies, and micro-loans for PWDs who complete vocational training, enabling them to establish self-sustaining businesses.
Inclusive Employment Enforcement: Fully enforce the 5% employment quota for PWDs in both public and private sectors as mandated by law, ensuring that those who can work are given the structural backing to do so.

A Call to Action
We urge the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly—currently deliberating the anti-begging bill—and the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, to adopt a compassionate, legally compliant, and economically sound approach.
Let us build a Lagos that leaves no one behind. True environmental sanity and public safety cannot coexist with the systemic oppression of its most vulnerable citizens.

BBC News
Premium Times
Daily Post Nigeria
Disability Rights Fund
Daily Times Nigeria
DW News
CNN Africa
CNN International
The Guardian
Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Human Rights Watch
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

13/07/2026

PRESS STATEMENT / ADVOCACY LEAFLET

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SKILLS, NOT SHACKLES: UNITED DISABILITY NETWORK CALLS FOR AN END TO THE ILLEGAL DETENTION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES BY LAGOS STATE KAI, DEMANDS SUSTAINABLE VOCATIONAL SOLUTIONS
LAGOS, NIGERIA– The United Disability Network strongly condemns the ongoing mass arrest, profiling, and prolonged detention of over 400 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) currently held in the custody of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC/KAI). While the Network acknowledges the Lagos State Government’s desire to maintain urban order, treating economic vulnerability caused by systemic neglect as a criminal offense is a gross violation of human dignity.
Many of these individuals have been detained for weeks without trial. This is a direct violation of Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which mandates that any person suspected of an offense must be charged to a court of competent jurisdiction within 24 to 48 hours or be released. Furthermore, this heavy-handed approach violates the Lagos State Special People’s Law, the National Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, and international treaties such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), to which Nigeria is a proud signatory. PWDs are citizens; they are not lesser human beings and must be accorded the exact same constitutional protections as any other Nigerian.

The True Crisis: Poverty, Not Criminality,
Street begging is not a lifestyle choice; it is a symptom of extreme economic exclusion, lack of accessible education, and systemic unemployment. Rounding up vulnerable citizens, detaining them indefinitely under sub-human conditions, or preparing them for forced "repatriation" does not solve the problem—it merely hides it from public view while compounding the trauma of an already marginalized community.
Our Position: The Long-Lasting Solution
The United Disability Network asserts that criminalization is an expensive, failed deterrent. The only sustainable, dignified, and long-lasting solution to street begging is economic empowerment.
We demand that the Lagos State Government immediately shift from a punitive model to a rehabilitative and developmental model by implementing the following:
Immediate Release or Arraignment:

Release all PWDs currently held beyond the constitutionally permitted timeframe by KAI, or immediately present them before a court with full access to legal representation.
Comprehensive Vocational & Skills Training:
Transform state rehabilitation centers from detention spaces into active hubs for technical, digital, and vocational training tailored to the capabilities of PWDs.

Take-Off Grants & Micro-Credit Schemes:** Instead of funding continuous, costly taskforce raids, the state should reallocate resources toward providing startup grants, assistive technologies, and micro-loans for PWDs who complete vocational training, enabling them to establish self-sustaining businesses.
Inclusive Employment Enforcement: Fully enforce the 5% employment quota for PWDs in both public and private sectors as mandated by law, ensuring that those who can work are given the structural backing to do so.

A Call to Action
We urge the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly—currently deliberating the anti-begging bill—and the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, to adopt a compassionate, legally compliant, and economically sound approach.
Let us build a Lagos that leaves no one behind. True environmental sanity and public safety cannot coexist with the systemic oppression of its most vulnerable citizens.

Disability Rights Fund
Daily Post Nigeria
Daily Times Nigeria
Punch Newspapers
Sahara Reporters
Al Jazeera English
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Babajide Sanwo-Olu
DW News

13/07/2026

During the weekend we have meeting with our Community leaders from various Clusters across Lagos state to discuss urgent issues affecting our communities fellow us more details soon!

12/06/2026

Today, Nigeria marks another Democracy Day. For over 27 years, our nation has journeyed under democratic rule. We have marched, we have voted, and we have celebrated.
​But at the United Disability Network, we are pausing to ask a fundamental question: Can a people truly benefit from a democracy they do not fully understand?
​For nearly three decades, millions of citizens—especially those within marginalized communities and persons with disabilities—have been left in the dark, unable to taste the dividends of democracy. The reason is simple: We cannot claim rights we do not know exist.
​📜 Our Position:
A true democracy requires a roadmap. The Constitution is that roadmap. It tells citizens exactly where they stand, how to navigate their society peacefully, and how to demand accountability constitutionally.
​Instead of just celebrating the idea of democracy every June 12, Nigeria needs to pivot. We believe this day should be championed as Constitutional Awareness Day.
​Our Call to Action:

​To the Government: Prioritize the simplification and distribution of the Constitution. Make it accessible to all, including braille, audio, and sign-language interpretations.

​To the Citizens: Let us move beyond the public holiday. Let us commit to learning our constitutional rights. True empowerment begins when we know the law that governs us.

​True democracy isn’t just about the ballot box; it is about constitutional literacy and inclusion for every citizen.
​

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Sahara Reporters
Punch Newspapers
Daily Times Nigeria
Daily Post Nigeria
Disability Rights Fund
National Commission for Persons with Disabilities- NCPWD, Nigeria
Nigeria Slum/Informal Settlement Federation
Nigerian Senate
House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria

27/05/2026

Happy Children’s Day from the United Disability Network!**
Today, we celebrate the incredible joy, resilience, and boundless potential of every child.
At UDN, we believe that every child deserves an equal opportunity to play, learn, dream, and thrive. True inclusion means building a world where barriers are removed, and every child—regardless of ability—is valued, heard, and celebrated for exactly who they are.
To our extraordinary children: Your differences are your strength, and your dreams have no limits. We are standing with you, fighting for your rights, and cheering you on every single day.
Let’s continue to build a more inclusive, accessible, and loving world for all our children.

13/05/2026

10/05/2026

On this World Lupus Day, we reaffirm our commitment to fostering an inclusive world for individuals living with chronic illnesses. Lupus may be a complex journey, but no one should walk it alone. We celebrate the courage of the survivors and advocates working tirelessly to increase global health literacy and support systems."




Must be

02/04/2026

Headline: Celebrating Different Minds! 🧩✨
​Today is World Autism Awareness Day, and at United Disability Network, we are honoring the incredible neurodiverse individuals who make our community more vibrant, creative, and complete.
​Autism isn't a "puzzle" to be solved—it’s a different way of experiencing the world. Today, we shift the narrative from "awareness" to acceptance and inclusion. Let’s build a world where everyone has the support and space to shine exactly as they are.
​How are you celebrating neurodiversity today? Let us know in the comments! 👇
​