The federal government has asked members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to suspend their seven-day warning strike.
The Minister of State for Health, Tunji Alausa, made the call on Thursday in Kaduna during a visit to the National Eye Centre.
According to Mr Alausa, negotiations are underway to secure the safety of his abducted colleague, Ganiyat Popoola.
The minister said the federal government and security agencies were working hard to rescue Ms Popoola.
He said: “We are aware of the matter and have been in discussions with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, on the issue.
“I have spoken to the Police Commissioner and everyone is working hard to get her released.”
The minister said he had held a meeting on Monday with NARD leaders on the situation to convince them to call off the strike because it would worsen the situation.
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“We do not believe that this warning attack will serve any purpose. We are all working to secure his release.
“We have known for two days that she is alive and that is good news for us, as security is working hard to bring her back alive,” he said.
Mr Alausa added that the kidnappers were changing their demands every moment but security agencies were working hard to ensure she was rescued safely.
“I ask you to stop the strike and let us continue to pray for her to return home in peace,” the minister impassionedly pleaded.
READ ALSO: Resident doctors begin national strike over kidnapping of colleague
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that members of the association have embarked on a seven-day warning strike to press for the rescue of a Kaduna doctor, Ganiyat Popoola.
Ms Popoola, an employee at the centre, was abducted in December 2023 and has now spent about nine months in the kidnappers' den.
Meanwhile, the president of the National Eye Centre Association, Ibrahim Mohammed, told NAN that the strike is continuing.
He said that doctors and dentists joined the strike and that it was a directive from the national body.
(YAYA)