Medical services at the Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital (FUTH) have been brought to a standstill following the nationwide strike declared by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
When our correspondent visited the hospital on Monday, wards were deserted as patients on admission had been evacuated, while health workers across major units — including the emergency, outpatient, and antenatal departments — abandoned their duty posts in compliance with the strike directive.
The industrial action, which began last Saturday, has already taken a heavy toll on citizens who rely on public hospitals for healthcare, leaving many stranded and anxious.
During a monitoring exercise at the facility, the NARD State President, Dr. Jude Yepowudu, led other members of the association on an inspection tour to ensure full compliance. He expressed deep concern over the government’s poor treatment of resident doctors, describing the strike as a necessary step to demand better welfare and working conditions.
“Resident doctors form the largest portion of medical manpower in Nigeria, yet we continue to face neglect,” Dr. Yepowudu said. “We are resolute in this strike — it is our collective effort to ensure improved welfare for doctors. Many of us can no longer afford to fuel our cars, pay rent, or meet basic family needs. We are tired of unfulfilled government promises.”
Several patients who spoke with Vanguard expressed disappointment and frustration, calling on the federal government to urgently resolve the crisis.
Mrs. Grace Peter and Hajiya Larai Abdullahi, who had come for antenatal care, described their experience as heartbreaking.
“We came for antenatal services but were told to go back because doctors are on strike. We couldn’t even do our ultrasound scan. The government should quickly meet the doctors’ demands so they can return to work,” they said.
As the strike drags on, tension is mounting among patients and relatives, particularly those in need of emergency treatment, who are being turned away.
Meanwhile, private hospitals across Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, are witnessing a surge in patient inflow as residents turn to alternative healthcare providers, often at higher costs.
The Federal Government and NARD leadership have yet to reach a resolution, raising fears that the strike could further cripple an already strained healthcare system and worsen the plight of ordinary Nigerians.
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