The Federal Government has urgently appealed to resident doctors under the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to end their seven-day warning strike. The plea was made by the Minister of State for Health, Tunji Alausa, during a visit to the National Eye Centre in Kaduna on Thursday.
The strike, which began on August 26, is in response to the ongoing kidnapping crisis involving Ganiyat Popoola, a registrar in the department of ophthalmology at the centre. Popoola was abducted on December 27, 2023, along with her husband and nephew. While her husband was released in March after negotiations with the abductors, Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.
Minister Alausa assured that the government is actively working on Popoola’s rescue. He emphasized that all relevant security agencies are involved and that the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, along with the Commissioner of Police, are engaged in efforts to secure her release.
“The government is not silent on this issue; we are in constant communication with the security agencies,” Alausa said. “I have spoken with the Commissioner of Police, and everyone is working hard to see that she is released.”
Alausa expressed concern that the strike might hinder progress and urged the doctors to resume work. He confirmed that Popoola is still alive and noted that the kidnappers have been altering their demands frequently.
“I appeal to you to call off the strike and let’s keep praying for her safe return,” Alausa added.
Despite the government’s plea, Ibrahim Mohammed, the NARD chairman at the centre, stated that the strike continues as planned. He also mentioned that medical and dental consultants have joined the strike in solidarity with the national body.
