Lagos doctors suspend sit-at-home protest

The Lagos state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has suspended its sit-at-home directive to its members.

On Wednesday, the NMA issued the directive to protest against the “incessant harassment” of doctors and other health workers by security agents enforcing the directive on restriction of movement in Lagos.

More than 50 essential workers, including doctors, were said to have been arrested by the police in Lagos on Tuesday, following the directive by Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police, on strict enforcement of the curfew from 8pm to 6am.

But in a statement on Thursday, the NMA said the state government and the police have assured the association that such harassment would no longer happen.

“The Nigerian police force has reached out to the Association to clarify and give assurance of cooperation with all health-workers,” the NMA said.

“The association has further received assurances from Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the top hierarchy of the Police that no health worker will be further harassed in the course of their lawful efforts to sustain services in the middle of the pandemic.

“Above all, the passionate appeal from the good people of Lagos State is difficult to resist considering the fact that they will be most hit by the situation.

“Following a holistic consideration of the above development, the Association hereby resolves that the sit-at-home order issued on the 19th of May is hereby reversed and our members are hereby directed to resume work from 6 pm today – 21st of May 2020 (this affects those on call duty).

“That the Lagos state government should ensure clarity at all times, on the exempted status of healthcare and other essential workers for the entire period of the ongoing lockdown/restriction of movement.

“That the Association will continue to monitor the situation and will not hesitate to take any action to protect the safety of our hardworking members.”