Dozens of visually impaired and physically disabled individuals staged a protest along Airport Road in Ikeja, Lagos, blocking major roads to Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Their protest, based on indignation at the two-year closure of their school—a very important institution providing education and vocational training—caused vehicular flow to be brought to a halt for hours.
Protestors, comprising students and alumni of the School of the Blind, carried banners and sang slogans demanding an immediate reopening of the school. One of them pointed out that the closure of the school had cut their right to education short and threatened to derail their future life. Another described how the closure resulted in many individuals driven to the streets as beggars since they had no support systems.
The resulting congestion left drivers stranded, while others abandoned their cars and walked for miles in an attempt to get into flights. The breakdown led to delays and had some flights missing. Agents of security were deployed to control the situation, yet no solution could be seen by afternoon.
While officials have declined to comment on the situation, insiders say the closure could be due to infrastructure issues and ongoing upgrades. Yet no reopening date has been set. Protests are ongoing, with demonstrators promising to stay until governmental action brings back their school and access to education.
Let me know if you’d like a summary version for social media or an aggressive lead to hook reader interest.
