IMPACT OF INACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENT ON THE ENJOYMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT BY KANO STATE’S STUDENTS WITH MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS

Abstract

A Person’s environment has a serious impact on the extent of his or her ability to safely and freely move around; thus, it defines the extent of a person’s integration in society. Meanwhile, inaccessible environments create barriers that hinder and/or obstruct the full and effective participation and inclusion of persons with mobility disabilities/impairments in enjoying their fundamental mobility disabilities on an equal basis with others. This paper assessed the extent to which students in Kano State Tertiary Institutions enjoy the right to freedom of movement. Meanwhile, it adopted a socio-legal methodology, which, on one hand, unveiled the plights of Nigerians with mobility disabilities in accessing their environments, including places of necessity, like schools/educational institutions, where they have been denied unfettered access. On the other hand, to uncloak their condition after passing into law, DPDPA and Kano State Persons with Disabilities Law in 2018, focus group discussions were conducted with eighteen students with varying degrees and severity of mobility impairments from Kano State’s owned tertiary institutions. The findings, however, revealed that structures and facilities in Kano State’s tertiary institutions are non-disabled friendly. Hence, students with mobility disabilities do not, on an equal basis with others, fully and effectively enjoy their fundamental right to freedom of movement. Furthermore, it recommends governments’ immediate intervention to renovate all existing structures to conform to the international standard of disability-friendly design. And that, while allocating classes/rooms, school authorities should always consider the special/peculiar needs of students with mobility impairments, to ensure their optimal integration and equal enjoyment of all educational opportunities.