Resident doctors begin 7-day warning strike over abduction of colleague

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared a seven-day nationwide warning strike over the abduction of Ganiyat Popoola. 

Popoola, a registrar in the department of ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, was abducted on December 27, 2023, alongside her husband and nephew.

They were abducted at the senior staff quarters of the eye centre.

While her husband was released in March after discussions with the abductors, Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.

Dele Abdullahi, NARD president, said the decision to embark on a strike was reached during the emergency national executive council (NEC) meeting on Sunday.

“The strike is commencing by midnight today. It’s for seven days, it’s a warning strike, and it’s total,” he said.

“During the strike, there will be no concessions, and there will be no emergency care.”

In July, the association issued a two-week ultimatum to government over Popoola’s abduction.

Resident doctors are medical school graduates training as specialists. They dominate emergency wards in Nigerian hospitals and are critical to frontline healthcare.