From Our Correspondent
The Federal Government has secured a Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of N20 billion, to facilitate local production of assistive devices for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
Dr James Lalu, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) announced the facility, at the weekend in Abuja.
Lalu said the need to source investors for manufacturing local assistive devices for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) became necessary due to the high cost of imported devices.
“Recently, we secured a Foreign Direct Investment to N20 billion.
“The NCPWD is going forward to ensure that we provide this opportunity to manufacture local assistive devices.
“We import most of our assistive devices and the price is higher. But things are now getting out of the reach of the poor.
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“The budgetary allocation may not be able to provide assistive devices to the disability community across the federation.
“Promoting local content in the manufacturing of assistive devices will increase patronage and boost the nation’s economy,” he said.
Manufacturing assistive devices, he said, would encourage government agencies to procure and distribute the aides to the disability communities.
He said NCPWD is already manufacturing assistive devices for persons with disabilities locally.
“These devices include wheelchairs, hearing aids and other devices for the blind, the deaf and persons with albinism.
“And we have procured and distributed these assistive devices to disability associations, NGOs and individuals with disabilities across the federation,” Lalu said.
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