The Federal Government has urged members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to end their seven-day warning strike.
Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of State for Health, made the call while visiting the National Eye Centre in Kaduna on Thursday.
According to Alausa, negotiations are currently underway to protect the safety of their kidnapped colleague, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola.
The minister stated that the federal government and security forces were working hard to rescue Popoola.
He said, “We are on top of the matter and have been on talking terms with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, regarding the issue.
“I have spoken with the Commissioner of Police, and everyone is working hard to see that she is released.”
The minister stated that he had held a meeting on Monday with the leadership of NARD over the situation to convince them to call off the strike because it would worsen the situation.
“We don’t believe this warning strike will do anything. All hands are on deck to secure her release.
“For the past two days, we know she is alive, and that’s good news for us as the security is working hard to bring her back alive,” he said.
Alausa noted that the kidnappers were constantly altering their demands, but he was certain that security authorities were working diligently to ensure her safe release.
“I appeal to you to call off the strike and let’s keep praying that she comes back home in peace,” the minister passionately appealed.
The association’s members launched a seven-day warning strike to demand the release of Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, a Kaduna-based doctor.
Popoola, a doctor at the centreii, was kidnapped in December 2023 and has now spent about nine months in the kidnappers’ den.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed, Chairman of the Association, National Eye Centre, told NAN that the strike was still ongoing.
He stated that the medical and dental experts had joined them in the strike, which was ordered by the national authority.
