The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) launched a nationwide seven-day warning strike to protest the abduction of their colleague, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola. The strike, which started at midnight, is expected to last for a week and will affect all medical services provided by resident doctors across the country.
The President of NARD, Dr. Dele Abdullahi, made the announcement during an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council. He stated that the strike will be comprehensive, with no allowances for emergency care or other exceptions during the period of the industrial action.
“The strike is total, and there will be no concessions or emergency care during this period,” he firmly declared.
The strike comes as a response to the unresolved kidnapping case of Dr. Popoola, who works as a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna.
Dr. Popoola, along with her husband and nephew, was abducted on December 27, 2023. While her husband was released in March, Dr. Popoola and her nephew have remained in captivity for over eight months, sparking outrage among the medical community.
Earlier this month, on August 15, 2024, NARD members in Lagos staged a protest to express their concerns about the lack of action regarding Dr. Popoola’s abduction. The protest, led by resident doctors from the Federal Medical Centre in Ebute-Metta, called for more government efforts in securing the release of their colleague.
NARD’s strike action highlights the growing frustrations within the medical profession over issues of safety and security, particularly for healthcare workers who have become targets of violence and abductions across Nigeria. The doctors are urging the government and security agencies to prioritize the release of Dr. Popoola and ensure the protection of medical personnel.
