Health is Wealth

Nigerian Doctors’ Association Threatens Nationwide Strike Over Kidnapped Colleague

Written by Jerry Alomatu on August 14, 2024

News Views: 255

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued an ultimatum, threatening a nationwide strike if Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, a colleague who was abducted in December, is not released by August 26.

NARD President Dr. Dele Abdullahi made the announcement during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, expressing frustration over the government’s lack of progress in resolving the situation. Dr. Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, was kidnapped on December 27, 2023, alongside her husband and nephew. While her husband was released in March, Dr. Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.

Dr. Abdullahi stated, “We have communicated with all relevant security agencies, urging them to act swiftly to rescue our colleague. Despite our efforts, including notifying the Nigerian Medical Association, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour, key legislative leaders, and the Kaduna State Government, there has been no significant progress.”

The association has also informed the Nigerian Medical Association, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, the Chairman of the House Committee on Health, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and the Kaduna State Government about the ongoing crisis.

“For a country where we have placed a high value on healthcare providers and the need for them to remain within the country, it is imperative that the security of these healthcare providers is guaranteed at all times,” Abdullahi emphasized.

Despite numerous communications and requests for action, NARD claims there has been no meaningful engagement with either security agencies or government officials.

“To address this issue, The association will embark on industrial action on August 26 if Dr Popoola is not freed by then,” Abdullahi said.

The association has acknowledged the support from concerned Nigerians and security agencies but stressed the need for decisive government action to resolve the situation. Abdullahi added, “It’s appalling that in a country where we want healthcare providers to stay, one of us has been incarcerated for over seven months and 17 days without any form of relief or directive on how the rescue mission will proceed.”