There was commotion at the Murtala Mohammed Airport as visually-impaired persons blocked road over allegations of neglect and the closure of the Farmcraft Centre for the Blind.
The demonstration, severely affected access roads to the airport, causing many air passengers to miss their scheduled flights and face delays.
The group carried placards and chanted slogans to draw attention to their grievances.
Leading the protest, popular Nigerian comedian and broadcaster Kelly Egbere, known as Kelly Blind, stated that visually impaired persons face challenges in moving around and are often neglected in terms of employment.
He highlighted the impact of the 2023 subsidy removal and emphasised the need for immediate attention from the President and other authorities.
Egbere expressed concerns about the closure of the Farmcraft Centre for the Blind, stressing that visually impaired individuals are suffering silently and being overlooked for opportunities.
He called for better welfare, including salaries, grants, and opportunities similar to those provided to sports teams. “Our members are dying silently. We are dying from neglect and being overlooked in opportunities. Farmcraft Centre for the Blind was closed down; they said the students should go, and no comment on when it would be opened.
“Many African countries are better than us when it comes to welfare for the visually impaired and other clusters.
“Farmcraft has been shut down since last year. Welfare is paramount. They can place us on salaries. They should give us grants. Super Falcons got over N100 million, D’Tigress basketball players also got over N100 million.
“We are educated, but have no job. So, I just want us to have this thing done today,” he demanded.
Another protester, Destiny, emphasised the humanity of visually impaired individuals and the importance of educational institutions like the Farmcraft Centre in providing a sense of dignity and purpose.
Reacting, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), in a statement, advised travellers to check traffic updates, confirm flight statuses, and consider alternative routes to avoid congestion.
FAAN apologised for any inconvenience caused and thanked the public for their patience and understanding.
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