Eight years after Nigeria enacted the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, inclusion for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) remains more of a promise than a reality in many parts of the country, including Kano.

Disability is often seen as something that concerns a specific group of people. That assumption does not always hold. A road accident, a spinal cord injury, or a sudden health condition can change a person’s life overnight.

Many of those now navigating these challenges were not born into them; they found themselves within this reality through circumstances they never planned for.

SolaceBase carefully observes that what stands out is how little the system adjusts to this reality. Within some tertiary institutions in Kano, students with physical challenges still face the question of access on a daily basis.

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Lecture halls located upstairs remain out of reach for those who cannot use staircases. This situation appears in different places, including Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Northwest University Kano, and Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology.

These examples are not to single out any institution, but to reflect a wider pattern that cuts across many campuses.

There are also examples that suggest a different approach is possible. Khalifa Isyaku Rabi’u University (KHAIRUN), for instance, has made provision that allows easier movement for those who cannot use staircases.

That effort may not solve everything, but it shows that accessibility is achievable when it is treated as necessary.

Some experiences bring the issue closer to home. There are students who, after accidents affecting their mobility, had to depend on friends, relatives, or spouses just to attend lectures or write examinations.

What looks like support at first glance is, in reality, a gap left unaddressed by institutions.

However, access challenges do not end in schools. In the banking sector, only a few institutions—such as Guaranty Trust Bank in some of its branches—have introduced ramps that allow wheelchair users to move in without difficulty. In many other places, entry still depends on whether a person can climb steps.

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Movement within the city presents its own difficulties. Many pedestrian bridges across Kano—along BUK Road, Zaria Road, Gwarzo Road, Kurna, and Rijiyar Lemo—were constructed without any provision for those who cannot use staircases.

One of the few exceptions is a bridge supported by Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN), which included a pathway for PWDs. Such efforts remain rare.

Moreover, public functions reflect a similar pattern. It is common to see official gatherings proceed without sign language interpreters, leaving those with hearing impairments unable to fully follow what is being said. Participation, in such cases, becomes limited by design.

Support initiatives also raise questions about priorities. During Ramadan, food items are often distributed to PWDs, and in some cases, small cash amounts—N20,000 or N50,000—are given as empowerment.

While these gestures may offer temporary relief, they do not address long-term needs. Many would benefit more from hearing aids, mobility support such as wheelchairs or tricycles, or access to education and employment opportunities that can sustain them.

The issue, therefore, is not a lack of awareness. The law already exists, and its provisions are clear.

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What remains unclear is why compliance is still treated as optional. Buildings continue to be approved without accessibility features, and public spaces are designed in ways that exclude a segment of the population. Years after the law came into effect, this should no longer be the case.

Authorities at all levels need to move beyond acknowledgements and begin enforcement. Public institutions, educational authorities, and private organisations should be made to meet accessibility standards, not as a favour, but as an obligation backed by law.

New structures must reflect inclusion from the outset, while existing ones should be gradually adapted.

Progress is often measured by visible development—roads, bridges, and new buildings. But development that leaves people behind raises serious questions about its purpose. Until accessibility becomes a standard and not an exception, inclusion will remain incomplete.