FNSB seeks white cane law, better infrastructure, solicits N10m to assist the blind By Edu Abade

The Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind (FNSB) has advocated a White Cane Law to assist the blind in the country access to mobility without fear of molestation and harassment by motorists and other road users.

Lamenting lack of basic infrastructure, especially roads, the group described the state of Lagos roads and those in other parts of the country as appalling and solicited government’s urgent intervention to fix roads across the country.

Speaking on the sidelines of this year’s White Cane day, which holds today globally, Chairman of FNSB, Yinka Akande, specifically asked the Lagos State government in collaboration with the State House of Assembly to facilitate the White Cane Law as it obtains in other climes, saying the board was already holding talks with the legislators.

He disclosed that FSNB will hold its 14^th Annual White Cane Safety Day Walk on Saturday October 19, 2019 with the theme, “Safety is Key” at the Vocational Training Centre (VTC) in Lagos.

He said FNSB, which was established in 1955 to rehabilitate and train people of ages 15-80 years, who go blind in adolescence or adulthood has the vision of becoming a world class model for breaking down barriers affecting the blind.

“The White Cane Safety Day Walk is held as a public enlightenment and advocacy programme to promote the White Cane as a mobility tool and symbol of independence for blind and visually impaired persons.

“Persons who are blind or visually impaired should be protected under the law. In fact, the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 seeks to do just that.

“They should be able to navigate the various transportation systems without fear of being injured or exploited. However, this is not the case in Nigeria. Many are trampled, crushed and intimidated. A properly trained white cane user can navigate better if the fear of being trampled is removed.

“Ultimately the White Cane Safety walk is FNSB’s way of advocating for equal rights and social inclusion for persons who are blind and to educate all citizens on the importance of this tool. It is also a day to celebrate the independence and mobility of the visually impaired,” he stated.

Akande added that FNSB works to prevent blindness and would be organising a free eye screening after the walk to enable people to know the health and condition of their eyes, urging everyone to do an eye-check once every two years to check for glaucoma, which often does not have any early symptoms and has no approved cure.

Also speaking, Adeola Obagun and Lanre Adebayo, who explained the features of the white cane, urged good spirited Nigerians, government and corporate organisations to assist the centre with N10 million to enable it to acquire the white canes for its students, adding that it takes at least N850, 000 to train a blind individual for two years.

Also, John Yekini and Nocholas Obot conducted journalists round the library, music school, resource room, recording studio and skills acquisition unit where the blind are taught the art of making soaps, beaded bags, baskets, as well as tie and dye.

Yekini said, “A blind man who desires to be successful must work extra hard to achieve his dreams. Being blind is not an excuse to be a liability to society. People with visual impairment should find themselves useful to others and their communities.”