The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared a seven-day warning strike commencing today, August 26. This action is a response to the ongoing abduction of their colleague, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, who has been missing for nearly eight months.

During an Emergency National Executive Council meeting, NARD President Dr. Dele Abdullahi announced that the decision to strike was made unanimously. The strike, which began at midnight, is expected to result in a complete shutdown of services, with no emergency care provided to patients in government hospitals throughout the duration of the strike.

Dr. Ganiyat 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, both Dr. Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.

The doctors’ strike coincides with recent alarming incidents of violence against medical professionals, including the abduction of 20 medical students in Benue State, who were thankfully released on August 24. The NARD has emphasised that this warning strike is intended to draw attention to the urgent need for improved safety measures for healthcare workers and to advocate for the immediate release of Dr. Popoola and her nephew.

As the strike unfolds, NARD has made it clear that there will be no concessions during this period, highlighting the severity of their demands for the safety and well-being of healthcare professionals in Nigeria.