The Federal Government has unveiled plans to establish medical rehabilitation centres across the country to provide specialised care for Nigerians living with spinal cord injuries.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, made this known in Abuja at a symposium to mark the 2025 World Spinal Cord Injury Day. Themed “Fall Prevention, Spinal Cord Protection, Empowering Lives, Enhancing Opportunities”, the event was organised by the Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria (SCIAN), FCT Chapter, in collaboration with Brain and Spine Foundation Africa.
Isa explained that the initiative, currently at the assessment stage, is being developed in partnership with the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria (MRTB). He noted that the project would identify gaps, review existing structures, and lay the foundation for a National Policy on Rehabilitation alongside a Strategic Plan.
“When fully implemented, this framework will reshape Nigeria’s rehabilitation landscape and bring renewed hope to many families,” he assured.
Reaffirming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to disability inclusion, Isa said: “This administration is determined to improve the quality of life for Nigerians living with spinal cord injuries through targeted interventions, assistive devices, and inclusive policies. No citizen should be denied health, dignity, or opportunity.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Chapter, Comrade Grace Ike, raised concern over the global rise in spinal cord injuries. According to her, over 15 million people currently live with the condition worldwide, with nearly one million new cases recorded in 2019 alone—majorly from road crashes and falls.
She called for stronger road safety measures, workplace protections, and improved health systems, while urging the media to amplify disability-focused stories and keep inclusion on the front burner of public discourse.
Chairman of SCIAN, FCT Chapter, Chioma Maureen Egede, described this year’s theme as both urgent and timely, noting that falls remain a leading cause of spinal cord injuries in Nigeria.
“Today is a reminder that our work is not yet done. We must continue to push for inclusive infrastructure, accessible healthcare, and policies that prioritise prevention and dignity,” she said, adding that collective action could make spinal cord injuries from falls the exception rather than the norm.
The symposium brought together medical experts, disability advocates, journalists, and policymakers, all united in the push for a stronger rehabilitation system and inclusive health policies for persons living with spinal cord injuries.
