BREAKING: Nigerian Resident Doctors Begin Nationwide Strike Over Colleague’s Abduction

Nigerian Doctors embark on Seven-Day Warning Strike Amid Ongoing Captivity of Dr. Ganiyat Popoola

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced a seven-day warning strike across the country, starting at midnight on Monday, August 26, 2024. The decision comes in response to the abduction of one of their colleagues, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna.

NARD President, Dr. Dele Abdullahi, stated that the strike is a direct result of the continued captivity of Dr. Popoola and her nephew, who were abducted on December 27, 2023, alongside her husband. While her husband was released in March, Dr. Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity after more than eight months.

“The strike is commencing by midnight today. It’s for seven days, it’s a warning strike, and it’s total. During the strike, there will be no concessions, and there will be no emergency care.”

Abdullahi confirmed during an Emergency National Executive Council meeting.

The abduction of Dr. Popoola has sparked outrage among the medical community, with NARD members staging protests in Lagos on Thursday, August 15, 2024, as reported by The Guardian. The association has called on the government to ensure the safe return of their colleague and to address the security challenges facing healthcare professionals in the country.

The strike is expected to disrupt medical services across Nigeria, as resident doctors constitute a significant portion of the country’s healthcare workforce. The decision to go on strike underscores the frustration and concern within the medical community regarding the safety and welfare of its members.