Medical doctors in Niger State under the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) have threatened to embark on an industrial strike if the abducted Head of Medical Services at New Bussa General Hospital, Dr Tony Eghagagara, is not released by his captors.
Dr Eghagagara was kidnapped on April 22, 2026, from his private clinic in Wawa, Borgu Local Government Area and has remained in captivity for 34 days, raising growing concern among health professionals in the state.
In a statement, the NMA Secretary in Niger State, Dr Aliyu Mohammed Chapa, called on the state government and security agencies to urgently intensify efforts to secure the doctor’s release, warning that continued delay could worsen tensions in the health sector.
The association also expressed dissatisfaction over what it described as the government’s failure to implement the revised CONMESS salary structure for doctors, despite rising workload and poor working conditions in state hospitals.
According to the NMA, the non-implementation of the improved remuneration package has further demoralised medical workers who are already operating under difficult circumstances.
The doctors further demanded immediate domestication of the new CONMESS circular for all medical practitioners in the state, arguing that fair compensation is essential to retaining skilled professionals in the public health system.
The association also rejected proposed premium adjustments by the Niger State Contributory Health Agency (NiCARE), warning that it had begun processes to withdraw its members from the state’s contributory health insurance scheme.
It cautioned that failure to secure the release of Dr Eghagagara and address their welfare concerns would significantly erode trust between medical workers and the government, as well as weaken healthcare delivery in the state.
Security agencies have yet to provide updates on efforts to rescue the abducted doctor, while concerns continue to grow over the safety of health workers, particularly in rural and high-risk communities across Niger State.
