The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has begun a seven-day warning strike over the abduction of its colleague, Ganiyat Popoola, who has been held captive for eight months.
NARD President Dele Abdullahi announced the strike during a virtual emergency meeting of the association's National Executive Council at midnight on Monday.
“The strike is total and there will be no concessions or emergency care during this period. All facilities, both federal and state, must ensure full compliance with the regulations, including proper transfer of patients to specialists,” Abdullahi said.
He said any centre that fails to comply with the strike directive will be heavily fined and denied participation in the next NARD annual general meeting.
Members of the association across the country had previously organised a protest march in all tertiary hospitals to demand the release of Ms Popoola.
Ms. Popoola, a doctor at the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, was abducted in December 2023 along with her husband and nephew.
Although her husband was released after a ransom was paid, Ms Popoola and her nephew are reportedly still in captivity.
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The kidnappers reportedly demanded a ransom of N60 million to release the doctor's husband.
NARD Board of Directors, Nationwide Protest
On August 14, NARD issued an ultimatum on August 26 for the victim's release.
At a press conference in Abuja, the association denounced the government's “inaction” in the face of the kidnapping.
It was decided to organise a national press conference and a nationwide protest march in all tertiary hospitals to demand the release of Ms Popoola.
When the incident occurred, Mr Abdullahi said the association notified all security agencies, the federal government and the Kaduna state government, but has not seen any meaningful action.
He noted that the association had communicated its decision to the Nigerian Medical Association, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour, the Senate President, 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.
“It is appalling that in a country where we want healthcare providers to stay, one of us has been held hostage for over seven months and 17 days without any relief or directive on how the rescue mission will proceed,” Abdullahi said.
Insecurity affects health workers
Nigeria has been grappling with armed conflicts such as terrorism and banditry among other problems.
The Health Protection in Conflict Coalition (SHCC) identified 19 incidents of violence against health workers in Nigeria in 2023.
It also identified 43 incidents in 2022, compared to 56 in 2021, in which 37 health workers were kidnapped, seven others were killed and health supplies were looted from pharmacies and health centres.