The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a warning that they will commence a nationwide strike if their kidnapped colleague, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, is not released by August 26.
During a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, NARD President Dr. Dele Abdullahi expressed the association’s frustration with the government’s lack of action. Dr. Popoola, who is a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, was abducted on December 27, 2023, along with her husband and nephew. Although her husband was released in March, Dr. Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.
Dr. Abdullahi stated that the association had informed all relevant security agencies and government bodies through official communications, urging immediate action for Dr. Popoola’s release.
The association has also reached out to various authorities, including the Nigerian Medical Association, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour, and the Kaduna State Government, but no significant progress has been made.
NARD plans to hold a national press conference and organize protest marches at tertiary hospitals across the country if their demands are not met. The association highlights the need for the safety and security of healthcare providers in Nigeria and the urgent need to rescue their colleague.
Dr. Abdullahi emphasized that if Dr. Popoola is not freed by the deadline, NARD will have no choice but to embark on industrial action, stressing that healthcare providers’ safety must be prioritized in the country.
News Editor