PWDs Demand Supplementary Petroleum Industry Act to Guarantee Inclusion

Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are calling on the Nigerian government to introduce a supplementary bill to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) that would specifically guarantee their inclusion in the oil and gas sector.

Speaking at a three-day workshop organized by the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) in Umuahia, Abia State, disability advocates highlighted the gaps in the existing PIA. They noted that while the current law acknowledges groups like women, youths, and traditional rulers in its benefit-sharing structures, it makes no specific provision for persons with disabilities.

The workshop, part of the “Ending Barriers Against Niger-Deltans with Disabilities” project supported by the Ford Foundation, brought together stakeholders to discuss strategies for ensuring that oil-producing communities include PWDs in development plans and employment opportunities.

Executive Director of CCD, David Anyaele, emphasized that without deliberate policies, persons with disabilities will continue to be sidelined from the wealth and development driven by Nigeria’s petroleum resources. “The PIA must reflect the diversity of our communities. Disability inclusion is not charity—it is a right,” Anyaele said.

Among their key demands, PWDs are advocating for the enforcement of a minimum 5% employment quota for persons with disabilities in the oil and gas industry. They are also pushing for the mandatory inclusion of disability representation in Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs), and full compliance with the National Disability Act, which prohibits discrimination and promotes equal opportunities.

Participants at the workshop also developed a “Demand Charter” to push for reforms at the federal and community levels, ensuring PWDs have a voice in how oil revenues and development projects are shared.

Similar campaigns have been launched in other oil-producing states such as Akwa Ibom, where activists are working to make the petroleum sector more inclusive.

The call for a supplementary act reflects broader frustrations among disability rights groups who argue that despite Nigeria’s 2019 anti-discrimination law, implementation remains weak across many sectors.

Advocates insist that true economic justice in the oil and gas industry will only be achieved when all citizens including persons with disabilities are equally recognized and empowered.