In response to claims that Mr. Adebola Daniel, the son of former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel, and a person with a disability suffered unfair treatment, the management of the well-known restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken has been invited by the House of Representatives Committee on Disabilities.
This was revealed by the committee’s chairman, Bashiru Ayinla, to House of Representatives correspondents on Tuesday at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
All Progressives Congress member Ayinla, who represents Lagos State’s Oshodi/Isolo-1 Federal Constituency, stated that the committee will make sure that anyone found to have violated the Disability Act would face the consequences of the law.
According to reports, Adebola, a wheelchair user, was refused entry to the KFC restaurant within the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos last week. The manager was cited as saying, “No wheelchair allowed.”
Speaking on the development, the lawmaker said, “We have invited KFC and there will be an investigation which will be based on House rules.”
He added, “The discriminatory incident, highlighted by Mr Daniel’s public account, sheds light on the challenges being faced by individuals with disabilities in Nigeria.
“Mr Daniel, a wheelchair user, faced humiliation when he was refused entry to the KFC outlet, with the manager stating, ‘No wheelchair allowed.’ This treatment is unacceptable and goes against the principles of inclusivity and respect and it is a violation of the Disability Act.”
In a series of tweets published on Wednesday under his X handle, @DebolaDaniel, the son of the former governor and current senator, Daniel reportedly described his experience at the airport KFC, writing, “Being disabled often rolls over my spirit, leaving behind a trail of shattered dignity and forgotten humanity.” In Nigeria, more so than anywhere else.
In addition, he stated that denying those with disabilities entry to public areas is uncivil and “undermines ongoing efforts to implement the Disability Act.”
He continued, “The case of Mr Adebola Daniel is one in millions of other unreported cases of such abuses and injustices against people with disabilities. This will no longer be tolerated by the governments at all levels. Any establishments within the shore of our country irrespective of owners’ status should take note. Enough is enough!
“The Discrimination against People with Disabilities Prohibition Act 2018, passed by the National Assembly, aims to safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities.
“However, compliance with this Act has been lacking since the grace period ended in January.”
Ayinla pledged the readiness of the committee to engage with communities to kick-start the full implementation of the Disability Act, adding that “Key provisions such as access to public buildings, employment quotas, and welfare promotion for persons with disabilities must be enforced to ensure their rights are upheld.”
He urged state governments to adopt the Disability Act, imitating Lagos State, and pointed out that a public education campaign would be very helpful in defending the rights of individuals who are living with disabilities.
Responding to inquiries from reporters outside the briefing, Ayinla dismissed the idea that the committee is raising awareness merely because a prominent citizen’s son is involved. However, he also stated, “If it takes Daniel’s son to get our members access to public places and make the work of our committee known, so be it.”
