Physically Challenged Persons Protest

Hundreds of physically challenged persons staged a peaceful protest in Kano, Wednesday, just a day after they were celebrated internationally, over a bill before the state House of Assembly seeking to ban street begging. Chanting Allahu Akbar, the protesters marched from the premises of state High Court to the state House of Assembly. Thousands of physically-challenged persons in Nigeria yesterday celebrated World Disability Day. International Day of People with Disability, celebrated every December 3, is an international observance promoted by the United Nations since 1992. The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. The International Day of People with Disability does not in anyway encourage street begging, but that seem to be the first option for most physically challenged persons in Nigeria. Observers say they prefer begging because it is an easy way of making so much, adding that some make as much as N5,000 daily from street begging