As families of children with disabilities struggle to access life-changing support, allegations of corruption, extortion and abuse of office have surfaced at the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, where intervention funds and assistance are allegedly being obstructed or diverted. CHIJIOKE IREMEKA reports

Every day, 47-year-old Mrs Ayeni Banke watches her 12-year-old son struggle with cerebral palsy, knowing that the specialised care that once gave him hope is gradually slipping beyond her reach.

Crushed by worsening financial hardship, the Lagos mother says she can no longer afford the therapy and treatment her son desperately needs, leaving her to watch the progress he made over the years slowly fade away.

In search of help, she knocked on the doors of several non-governmental organisations, hoping someone would ease her burden. But according to her, many told her they were unable to assist because they lacked funds.

She also alleged that some officials responsible for administering disability intervention funds demand kickbacks before offering support, making access to assistance even more difficult for families already pushed to the brink.

Banke, who lives in Baruwa, Paja, in the Alimosho area of Lagos with her family, said each two-hour therapy session costs N15,000 and that her petty foodstuff business can no longer cover the cost.

“I could no longer afford the twice-weekly therapy sessions recommended for him and this made my son’s progress over the past years to start reversing

“We have been on this journey for the past 13 years, and it has drained me financially and emotionally. I used to work, but I resigned to take care of him. I never knew it would require lifelong care. If I had known, I wouldn’t have left my job,” she lamented amid tears.

Though Banke now runs a small business, the income is very little, and this has made her resort to self-help.

“I try to do some of the exercises myself, but I am not an expert. He needs professional therapy. Hiring a private therapist is beyond my means because of the high fees. At the government hospital where we receive therapy, appointments sometimes come only once every two months. If I wait that long, all the progress he has made will be lost,” she said.

Banke lamented the lack of financial support available to parents of children with special needs, saying many NGOs were struggling to sustain their intervention programmes.

“There is an organisation we belong to called Super Parents Foundation. We share ideas on how to care for our children, but they do not have money either. However, whenever any support comes, they try to assist us,” she said.

Banke told Sunday PUNCH that she had exhausted everything she owned and was now appealing for financial support to keep her son alive and on treatment.

“If I receive empowerment to expand my business, I will be able to care for him even if help does not come from NGOs. I sell foodstuffs, but the income is not enough because caring for him is expensive. Where other parents may spend N10, I spend N100. I now do all kinds of jobs to earn extra income. I even help people with shopping. People now call me a jack of all trades.”

Physiotherapy costs beyond family’s reach

In a similar plight, the mother of a six-year-old boy, Iyanuoluwa, who has cerebral palsy, Mrs Omolara Odubuwale, said it had become too expensive and financially draining to provide her son with the prescribed three physiotherapy sessions a week.

For the Ejigbo, Lagos resident, the lack of financial support has significantly reduced the treatment her son receives weekly, slowing the progress he had made.

She appealed for assistance, explaining that although her son is expected to undergo physiotherapy three times a week, he has not received a single session in the past three months because she cannot afford it.

According to her, the high cost of transportation has also forced her to postpone hospital visits while she struggles to raise enough money to bring a therapist to their home.

She lamented that the only NGO that used to support them was now constrained by inadequate funding, coupled with the increasing number of people seeking the same assistance.

Odubuwale said each one-and-a-half-hour physiotherapy session costs N20,000, a burden that has exhausted the family’s lean finances despite her being a salary earner.

“My husband is a shoemaker, but he doesn’t have a shop. People don’t know where to find him, so he has very few customers. That has affected our family income.

“I would appreciate any help for my child and support to expand my husband’s business so we can better care for him,” she said.

Odubuwale added that her son had outgrown his walking aid and urgently needed a replacement, but the cost was beyond the family’s reach.

“The old one no longer fits him. Using it is stressful and is not helping his recovery,” she said.

Speaking on the importance of physiotherapy, the woman said it had become just as essential as medication in managing her son’s condition.

“I have come to realise that his treatment is not just about drugs; therapy is equally important. Every time he attends therapy, I see remarkable improvement. I just wish I had enough money to continue his sessions regularly.

“An NGO used to support us whenever it had funding, but the support has reduced. They later referred me to another organisation, which now helps with his school fees,” Odubuwale said.

She explained that her son has speech and mobility challenges, and doctors advised that he should be enrolled in school to enable him to learn by interacting with other children.

“He also has seizures. We receive treatment and medication at the psychiatric and neurological hospital in Oshodi, but his drugs have become very expensive.

“The seizures are more frequent during the rainy season because cold weather triggers them. We do everything possible to keep him warm.

“Whenever we cannot afford his medication, the seizures become more frequent,” Odubuwale added.

The Issues

In Nigeria today, advocates say there is a growing number of children living with disabilities, many of whom require specialised healthcare, rehabilitation services, assistive devices, educational support and welfare interventions but do not receive them due to alleged corruption and other systemic challenges.

Sunday PUNCH reports that while government intervention funds and support programmes exist to address some of these needs, stakeholders alleged that beneficiaries are unable to access them.

According to disability advocates and non-governmental organisations working in the sector, children living with disabilities continue to struggle to access intervention funds and support services meant to improve their lives.

The 2021 United Nations Population Fund estimated that about 32 million Nigerians, including children, live with one form of disability or another.

UNFPA noted that children with disabilities experience disrupted education for various reasons, including stigma and discrimination, inaccessible school infrastructure, delayed identification and diagnosis, and inadequate funding to support their needs.

However, to address these challenges, the administration of former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola established the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs following the enactment of the Lagos State Special People’s Law in 2011.

It was meant to safeguard persons with disabilities from discrimination and guarantee equal rights.

LASODA was created to enforce the law, issue disability certificates, protect the rights of persons with disabilities and serve as a link between the government and NGOs, homes and cluster foundations working with them.

His successor, Akinwunmi Ambode, established the disability fund and inaugurated the agency’s board in line with the law.

Following this, the Lagos State Government voted N500m annually to support persons with disabilities before increasing the allocation to N1bn in May 2026. The fund is Intended to promote inclusion, accessibility and public awareness.

Sunday PUNCH learnt that the Lagos State Government also provides annual grants ranging from N500,000 to N1 million to registered NGOs, special homes and disability clusters.

The funds are managed and disbursed through LASODA to support the daily operations, advocacy and caregiving activities of organisations working with persons with disabilities.

However, stakeholders alleged that some officials involved in administering the funds demand kickbacks from beneficiary organisations before processing or releasing the grants.

An NGO operator identified simply as Ishola, who works closely with children with disabilities, alleged that corruption had become a major obstacle preventing support from reaching those who need it most.

“There is funding available for these children, but it cannot reach them because corruption is getting worse every day. Some officials responsible for processing or facilitating access to intervention funds demand a percentage of the money as a kickback before approving or releasing support,” the source alleged.

LASODA in the eye of the storm

Several stakeholders who spoke exclusively to Sunday PUNCH raised concerns about transparency and accountability in the administration of disability-related intervention funds.

They alleged that demands for kickbacks significantly reduce the funds available to NGOs to cater to the needs of children living with disabilities.

Another NGO operator, who requested anonymity for fear of being blacklisted from accessing intervention funds, alleged that during an interaction with the Director of Social Development and Integration at the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, Kelani Akeem, the official proposed sharing intervention funds.

“He said he would include my NGO’s name among the beneficiaries, but I would have to give him a certain amount as commission. I knew that if I did that, there would be nothing left to carry out the interventions for the children,” the source told our correspondent.

The source further alleged that organisations that refused to comply with such demands risked being excluded from funding opportunities.

“We have been blacklisted because we refused to pay. Some of the things happening in this sector are deeply troubling,” the source claimed.

He further added that many organisations that allegedly comply were afraid to speak out for fear of being cut off from future interventions.

“They would say half a loaf is better than none, thereby denying needy children the intervention that was meant for them and enriching some selfish individuals within LASODA,” the source alleged.

The allegations against LASODA come amid growing concerns by some stakeholders over the management of disability intervention funds in Lagos State.

The PUNCH, in a report published on November 6, 2025, reported that the Coordinator of Kehinde Oshilaja Foundation, Kehinde Oshilaja, urged the Lagos State Government to make greater provisions for the welfare of persons with disabilities, particularly in affordable housing, healthcare and social infrastructure.

The organisation also called for well-equipped sporting facilities to promote the physical and social well-being of persons with disabilities across the state.

When the Lagos State Government, through the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, announced in May 2026 an increase in the disability support fund managed by LASODA from N500 million to N1 billion during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing, he said the additional funding was specifically meant to strengthen support for persons with disabilities across the state.

According to the commissioner, the agency had continued to make significant progress in promoting inclusion, accessibility and public awareness for persons with disabilities in Lagos State.

He said LASODA’s interventions covered capacity building and professional training, economic empowerment and business support, financial assistance to homes and disability clusters, as well as the provision of assistive devices, prosthetics, and work tools.

However, Sunday PUNCH gathered that some stakeholders alleged that the same intervention fund had become vulnerable to kickback demands by some officials from NGOs seeking access to the grants.

Recently, the Lagos State chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to constitute an independent panel to investigate allegations of misappropriation of funds and other complaints against LASODA.

The Chairman of JONAPWD Lagos, Dr Adebukola Adebayo, made the demand during a press conference organised by the association and disability clusters in the state.

He acknowledged the governor’s commitment to improving the welfare of persons with disabilities but maintained that failure to investigate the allegations against LASODA could undermine those efforts.

Adebayo also urged the governor to constitute the LASODA Governing Board as provided for under the Lagos State Special People’s Law.

According to him, the board would provide direction, strengthen inclusiveness in the management of the agency and help prevent the alleged mismanagement of funds meant for persons with disabilities.

The JONAPWD chairman further called for an independent audit of the agency to scrutinise fund disbursement and project implementation.

He alleged that an audit would expose any fraud, corruption and non-compliance with the Lagos State Procurement Law.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Nigerian Association of the Blind, Lukman Salami, lamented the non-payment of the N100,000 empowerment grant and the N50,000 social security support to eligible beneficiaries.

He appealed to the Lagos State Government to ensure that the funds were released without further delay.

Salami also stressed the need for inclusive education that adequately addresses the academic needs of children across different disability clusters.

The human cost

Behind the allegations of corruption and demands for kickbacks are families whose lives have been upended by the inability to access support meant for children living with disabilities.

For a grandmother, who introduced herself to Sunday PUNCH as Mrs Sola, the cost was irreversible.

As her grandson’s condition worsened, she knocked on the doors of non-governmental organisations, hoping someone would help. She exhausted her family’s savings, borrowed from neighbours and sought assistance from charitable organisations. But the help she desperately needed never came.

Her grandson died while they were still searching for support, leaving behind grief and painful questions about whether his life could have been different had help arrived in time.

For another mother, the nightmare is still unfolding.

Her young son suffers from a severe medical condition that requires surgery, yet months after seeking help, she is still unable to find an NGO willing or able to fund the operation.

One of the organisations she approached, which requested anonymity for fear of victimisation, told Sunday PUNCH that it could not assist because its intervention funds had dwindled, a situation it attributed to alleged kickback demands.

“One child has swollen testicles, and we have not been able to raise money for the operation. The boy is dying slowly, yet there is funding somewhere that is supposed to address situations like this, but corruption is sitting on it,” the source alleged.

Disability advocates said intervention funds are meant to bridge exactly these kinds of gaps by ensuring that vulnerable children receive medical care, educational opportunities and other essential support. But they warned that when access to such resources is compromised, it is the children who ultimately pay the price.

For another mother, whose identity is being withheld to protect her privacy, every new day is another struggle to keep hope alive.

Her seven-year-old daughter, Joel, has cerebral palsy. She told Sunday PUNCH that she is still searching for an NGO or kind-hearted Nigerians willing to help pay for her daughter’s medication and therapy.

According to her, the rising cost of treatment has pushed the family to breaking point.

“I’m a businesswoman. I sell used clothes, popularly known as ‘okrika.’ Whatever I make goes into my daughter’s treatment, and I don’t have anyone helping me. My husband is a security guard and doesn’t earn much. We are just managing.

“I have appealed to a particular NGO, and once in a while, when they have funds, they help, but not always. They also complain that they don’t have enough money.

“So I have to carry my cross. But it is not easy. Carrying her to where she receives treatment is also very stressful. Transportation costs are high. I need help. Please, well-meaning Nigerians, come to my aid,” she pleaded.

Devastating consequences — Physician

Corroborating these concerns, a Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician at Havanah Hospital, Lagos Island, Dr Cynthia Okafor, said delays in accessing intervention for children living with disabilities could have devastating consequences.

She noted that many families are unable to secure urgent medical treatment because organisations expected to support them often lack adequate resources.

According to her, one of the gravest consequences of the alleged corruption is that it diminishes children’s chances of receiving timely medical attention that could improve or even save their lives.

“Illnesses and diseases are better treated at an early stage. When treatment is delayed beyond the critical or golden period, the chances of recovery become significantly reduced,” she said.

Calls for accountability

A child rights advocate and lawyer, Lawrence Ndukwe, said the allegations underscore the need for stronger oversight, transparent disbursement mechanisms, and independent monitoring of disability intervention funds.

He argued that every naira allocated to support children living with disabilities should be traceable from appropriation to implementation.

Similarly, a disability rights advocate called for regular audits, whistleblower protection, and transparent reporting systems that would enable beneficiaries and service providers to report suspected misconduct without fear of victimisation.

“The ultimate victims of corruption are not organisations or government agencies but children who depend on these interventions to survive and thrive,” the advocate said.

Also, a civil society organisation led by Samuel Adetiba called on the authorities to investigate allegations of extortion, blacklisting, and the alleged misuse of disability intervention funds.

He said the issue transcended bureaucracy and financial accountability because the health, education, and future of vulnerable children depended on the support.

According to him, until concerns surrounding the management of disability intervention funds are addressed, children with disabilities will continue to pay the highest price for a system designed to protect them.

“For families still waiting for help, every delay could mean another missed opportunity, another untreated condition, or another life lost too soon,” he added.

LASODA official responds

When contacted over the allegations, the Director of Social Development and Integration at the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, Kelani Akeem, appealed to Sunday PUNCH to “use your good office to address the matter,” saying it had been resolved internally.

“May God not let you lose your job. May God not let you lose your job. May God not let you lose your job. I don’t know what to say. Please use your good office to address the matter. The matter has been settled in the office,” he said when asked to respond to the allegations.

The General Manager of LASODA, Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, was also contacted on Friday, July 17, 2026, and asked to respond to the allegations. She requested that the enquiries be sent via email, which our correspondent did.

When reminded the following day that no response had been received, she replied:

“Good afternoon, sir. You sent your email, didn’t you? Exactly… you will get your reply. Thank you.”

As of the time this report was filed, LASODA had yet to respond to the detailed questionnaire sent by Sunday PUNCH, which sought its reaction to allegations of kickback demands, the blacklisting of NGOs, the alleged mismanagement of the Disability Intervention Fund, and the measures it has put in place to ensure transparency and accountability in the disbursement of the funds. (Sunday PUNCH)

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