The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced a seven-day warning strike in response to the continued abduction of their colleague, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, who has been held captive for nearly eight months. The strike is set to begin at midnight on Monday, August 26, 2024.
NARD President, Dr. Dele Abdullahi, disclosed this decision following an Emergency National Executive Council meeting on Sunday, August 25, 2024.
“The strike is commencing by midnight today. It’s for seven days, it’s a warning strike, and it’s total,” Abdullahi stated. “During the strike, there will be no concessions, and there will be no emergency care.”
Dr. Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, was abducted on December 27, 2023, alongside her husband and nephew. While her husband was released in March, Dr. Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.
NARD members have previously protested in tertiary hospitals across the nation, demanding the release of Dr. Popoola. The association has expressed deep concern for her safety and the government’s efforts to secure her freedom.
The strike is expected to disrupt medical services nationwide, as resident doctors will withdraw their services completely for the duration of the protest.
