August 14, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has threatened a nationwide strike from August 26, if their abducted colleague, Ganiyat Popoola, remains in captivity.
Ganiyat, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, was abducted on December 27, 2023, along with her husband and nephew. While her husband was released in March, Dr. Ganiyat and her nephew remain in captivity.
Briefing the press in Abuja on Wednesday, NARD’s President, Dele Abdullahi, said the association has lost patience with the government’s inaction over the abduction.
Abdullahi said, “Following notification of the incident, the association notified all security agencies through official written communication, requesting immediate action towards the prompt rescue and release of our incarcerated colleague.
“For a country where we have placed a high value on healthcare providers and the need for them to remain within the country, it is imperative that the security of these healthcare providers is guaranteed at all times.”
He said the association has written several letters to security agencies, the Federal Government, and the Kaduna State Government but has received no response.
“We’ve been engaging, but we’ve not actually had any opportunity to have any personal engagement with the security agencies and the state or federal government regarding this sad situation.
“NARD has resolved to organise a national press conference and a protest march in all tertiary hospitals across the nation to demand Ganiyat’s release.
“The association will embark on industrial action on August 26, if Dr. Popoola is not freed by then,” he said.
Abdullahi, however, urged the government to take concrete steps to rescue their colleague, saying, “It’s appalling that in a country where we want healthcare providers to stay, one of us has been incarcerated for over seven months and 17 days without any form of relief or directive on how the rescue mission will proceed.”
