Amanze ChinonyeA protest by visually impaired persons that paralysed access to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Monday has been linked to the prolonged closure of Farmcraft, Nigeria’s only federal training centre for the blind, as well as broader concerns over welfare, education, and government neglect.
Speaking to Prime Business Africa, the protesters accused the government of “total negligence” and questioned whether they were excluded from President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda. They said the closure of Farmcraft had sharply reduced their chances of obtaining formal education and skills training, leaving them at a greater disadvantage in the job market as many employers refuse to engage persons with disabilities.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe group said their grievances date back to the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, when students at the Federal Vocational Training Institute for the Blind in the Isheri Olofin area of Lagos, were directed to begin paying ₦120,000 annually in tuition. At the same time, welfare provisions were progressively reduced from three daily meals to two, then to one before being completely withdrawn.
Speaking to Prime Business Africa correspondent they alleged that Farmcraft was shut down on July 6, 2024, without any prior notice to students. Letters sent to relevant authorities between October 2024 and January 2025 have, according to them, been ignored. The protesters are also demanding the reopening of a school for blind children in the Mile 12 area of Lagos, which they claim has been closed for years without explanation.
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In a press statement, the Chairman of the Nigerian Association of the Blind (NAB), Kwara State chapter, Akeem Lawal, described Farmcraft as “the sole federal government-owned training centre for the blind in our country” and “a lifeline for visually impaired Nigerians without access to formal education.” He said his investigation revealed the centre’s electricity was disconnected on July 28, 2024, over a heavy debt.
“For decades, this institution has been a beacon of hope, providing our members with the skills they need to earn a livelihood,” Lawal said, warning that its closure could “force our people into a life of begging and destitution.” He urged NAB leaders across the 36 states and the FCT to unite and demand immediate government action.
Monday’s demonstration brought traffic to a standstill along Airport Road, forcing passengers to abandon vehicles and use commercial motorbikes despite a Lagos State ban on motorcycles with certain engine capacities on major roads. By 2:00 p.m., police and military personnel had taken control of the exit gate at Murtala Muhammed Terminal 2 (MM2), redirecting traffic as the protesters blocked all movement toward the international wing.
The demonstrators have vowed to remain in place until they are publicly addressed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda and other relevant government officials, insisting there will be “no closed-door meetings of any kind.”
As of press time, the Lagos State Government had not commented on the incident, and it was unclear whether airlines had delayed departures to accommodate passengers caught in the disruption.
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