News
NARD Begins Nationwide Strike Over Kidnapped Doctor, Halts Medical Services
On Monday, August 26, 2024, the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) initiated a nationwide 7-day warning strike across all its centers. This strike is in response to the ongoing captivity of one of their colleagues, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, who has been held by kidnappers for over eight months.
Dr. Dele Abdullahi, the President of NARD, announced this development in a formal statement, explaining that the decision was taken during an urgent virtual meeting of the association’s National Executive Council, which took place on Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Abdullahi made it clear that the industrial action would be comprehensive, halting all medical services, including emergency care, for the entire duration of the strike.
Dr. Popoola, who works as a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, was abducted along with her husband and nephew nearly eight months ago.
While her husband was released in March, Dr. Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity, a situation that has deeply concerned both NARD and the wider medical community.
The doctors are demanding her immediate release, alongside improved security measures to protect medical professionals, particularly in high-risk areas.
The strike is intended to draw attention to these issues and pressurize the government to act swiftly. With no medical services being rendered during the strike, including emergency treatments, the situation could have significant implications for patients nationwide.
NARD has emphasized that the strike is a necessary step in the face of increasing insecurity and the government’s perceived lack of urgency in securing the release of Dr. Popoola.
The association further stressed that the safety of health workers must be prioritized to prevent similar incidents in the future.
It has been reported that Niger State and some northern states have come together and agreed to take down 979 forests in order to strengthen national security.
This was revealed by the Niger State Governor, represented by his deputy, Yakubu Garba, at the passing-out parade in Mutum Daya.
He also shared that the government will support in any way they can in order to achieve this and strengthen security in Nigeria.
“The state will make necessary arrangements to support and empower the Forest Guard families for their service to the nation. We will provide them with adequate healthcare insurance scheme.”
Nigerian news analyst, Mahmud Jega, has shared his opinion on the recent airstrike carried out by the United States in Nigeria, stating that Nigerians should not blame President Bola Tinubu for the incident.
Jega made this statement during a recent interview, where he said he does not believe many people will hold the Tinubu administration responsible, as Donald Trump had issued threats against Nigeria long before Tinubu’s administration.
“No, I don’t think many people will blame the Tinubu administration for what is happening now because President Donald Trump, when he first made the threats, it was clearly not in coordination with the Tinubu administration or the government of Nigeria,” Jega said.
It has been reported that the United States carried out an airstrike targeting ISIS in the northwest region of Nigeria. The order was reportedly given by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist elements in northwest Nigeria,” Trump said.
He added, “I have previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.”
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