By Milcah Tanimu
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has pointed to escalating insecurity as a primary cause behind the ongoing exodus of doctors from Nigeria.
The association’s Kogi State Chairman, Abubakar Hassan, addressed journalists in Lokoja regarding the nationwide strike initiated by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). The strike is a response to the continued abduction of their colleague, Ganiyat Popoola, who has been held captive for eight months.
Hassan highlighted that medical professionals have become prime targets for criminal elements, despite their vital contributions to society. He lamented that frequent kidnappings have severely disrupted healthcare services in Kogi State and across the nation, with many incidents going unreported.
He pointed out that in one North Central State alone, at least two doctors are currently in captivity—one for over a year and another more recently. This situation is reportedly consistent nationwide.
Hassan criticized the federal government for its failure to ensure security, emphasizing that this insecurity is a major factor driving doctors to leave the country. He stated that the warning strike was a last resort to pressure the government to address their concerns.
Jimoh Umar, President of the Association of Resident Doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja, confirmed full compliance with the warning strike in Kogi State. He called for urgent government action to address the deteriorating security situation for medical professionals.
On August 26, 2024, NARD commenced a seven-day warning strike over the kidnapping of Ganiyat Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna. Popoola was abducted in December 2023 along with her husband and nephew.
