Resident Doctors Issue Strike Ultimatum Over Colleague’s Abduction

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has threatened to initiate a nationwide strike if their abducted colleague, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, is not rescued and released by August 26.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, NARD President Dr. Dele Abdullahi expressed the association’s growing frustration with the government’s inaction regarding the prolonged captivity of Dr. Popoola. Dr. Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, was abducted along with her husband and nephew on December 27, 2023. While her husband was released in March, she and her nephew remain in the hands of their captors.

Abdullahi highlighted that the association had promptly informed all relevant security agencies, as well as key government officials, about the situation through formal channels, emphasizing the urgency of securing the release of their colleague. “We have exhausted all diplomatic avenues, reaching out to security agencies and government officials at various levels, yet there has been no significant progress,” Abdullahi lamented during the briefing.

The association also reached out to the Nigerian Medical Association, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour, the leadership of the National Assembly, and the Kaduna State Government, urging them to prioritize the safety and well-being of healthcare workers. “It is alarming that in a country where we are constantly urged to retain our healthcare professionals, one of us has been held captive for over seven months with no clear rescue strategy in sight,” Abdullahi remarked.

In response to the continued lack of action, NARD has resolved to organize a nationwide protest and press conferences at tertiary hospitals across the country to draw attention to Dr. Popoola’s plight. Abdullahi announced that if their colleague is not released by August 26, the association would have no choice but to embark on an industrial action.

The association expressed gratitude to well-meaning Nigerians and the security agencies who have shown support but stressed the need for the government to take decisive action. “The government must act swiftly and decisively to bring Dr. Popoola back to her family and ensure the safety of all healthcare professionals in the country,” Abdullahi urged, adding that the association is determined to take further action if necessary.

As the deadline approaches, NARD’s stance reflects the increasing frustration and fear within the medical community, underscoring the urgent need for a resolution to Dr. Popoola’s abduction. The association’s planned strike looms as a significant action that could disrupt healthcare services across Nigeria if the government fails to act swiftly.