Abia Deepens Partnership to Ensure Disability-Inclusive Climate Policy Framework
Korede Abdullah 
ABIA, Nigeria – The Abia State Ministry of Environment announces a strengthened partnership with the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) to ensure that the state’s emerging climate change policy is fully disability-inclusive.
The move reflects the government’s commitment to equitable climate governance.
Commissioner for Environment, Philemon Ogbonna, speaking during a CCD visit in Umuahia on Friday, says the organisation “forms a major part of the ministry’s climate change programme” and will be “greatly and deeply involved” in the policy’s development.
He confirms that the climate policy, designed to support a low-carbon transition and sustainable land use, is currently undergoing technical review ahead of a validation workshop.
Ogbonna stresses Governor Alex Otti’s directive that no community should be left behind. “We will work as a team to produce a policy that meets minimum acceptable standards and serves everyone,” he says. The Ministry will inform CCD of the “dates and programmes” for the validation exercise once the review phase ends.
Acting CCD Director, Godwin Unumeri, says the visit aims to deepen coordination and ensure persons with disabilities have an active role in shaping the policy. He proposes joint management of the validation workshop and mobilisation of persons with disabilities across different clusters.
Unumeri highlights CCD’s long-standing partnership with the Ministry, supported by the Disability Rights Fund, and affirms its commitment: “CCD remains dedicated to ensuring Abia delivers a climate policy that reflects the needs and contributions of persons with disabilities.”
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