Nigeria tele-robotic surgery has marked a major development in healthcare technology after a surgeon in Ogun State remotely operated on a patient in Abuja to remove a kidney affected by a cancerous tumour. The procedure, described as Nigeria’s first tele-robotic surgery, was performed in real time through a collaboration between Redeemer’s Health Village (RHV) in Ogun State, RoboMed Global and Nisa Premier Hospital in Abuja.
The operation took place on Saturday, September 19, with the patient remaining at Nisa Premier Hospital while Professor Obi Ekwenna-Davis, a professor of urology and transplantation and co-founder of RoboMed Global, controlled a Toumai robotic surgical system from RHV in Ogun State. The procedure was a robot-assisted right radical nephrectomy, which involves removing an affected kidney, and in this case, the kidney contained a cancerous tumour.
How Nigeria Tele-Robotic Surgery Worked
The Nigeria tele-robotic surgery was different from conventional robotic surgery because the surgeon was not physically present in the same operating theatre as the patient. Instead, Professor Ekwenna-Davis operated the robotic system from a console in Ogun State, while the surgical robot at the Abuja hospital responded to his movements in real time.
The technology combines robotic surgical equipment with telecommunications systems, allowing a surgeon to control instruments from another physical location. Medical professionals were also present around the patient in Abuja throughout the operation, meaning the robotic system did not operate independently. The human surgeon remained responsible for controlling the robotic instruments during the procedure.
The operation reportedly lasted about three hours and included brief pauses to ensure that the equipment and communication systems were functioning properly. Reports said the patient was in good condition after the surgery and was expected to be discharged within 24 hours.
One of the most important parts of the Nigeria tele-robotic surgery was the communication infrastructure that connected the surgeon in Ogun with the patient in Abuja. Starlink was used for connectivity, while MTN provided backup connectivity, helping to maintain communication between the robotic console and the surgical system during the operation.
Reliable connectivity is particularly important for remote surgery because the surgeon’s movements and commands must be transmitted to the robotic system with minimal interruption. Any serious disruption could potentially affect the operation, making dependable communications, backup systems and trained medical teams essential to the process.
What The Surgery Means For Nigerian Healthcare
The successful operation has drawn attention to the potential of remote surgery to connect patients with highly specialised medical expertise without requiring them to travel to another city or outside Nigeria. Professor Ekwenna-Davis said the procedure demonstrated that telesurgery could potentially be used between different parts of Nigeria and, in the future, across international borders.
For patients who require complex procedures, access to specialist surgeons can sometimes involve significant travel, particularly when the required expertise is not available in their immediate location. Remote robotic surgery could provide another option if hospitals have the appropriate equipment, medical personnel, connectivity and safety systems required to support such procedures.
The development could also create opportunities for Nigerian specialists living abroad to contribute their expertise to procedures carried out in the country without necessarily having to travel back for every operation. However, expanding the technology would require considerable investment in robotic equipment, training, reliable electricity, telecommunications infrastructure and specialist support staff.
Dr Adedamola Dada, Chief Executive Officer of Redeemer’s Health Village, described the operation as the first telesurgery procedure in West Africa. The hospital has been developing its robotic surgery programme as part of broader efforts to expand access to advanced medical treatment in Nigeria.
The development also highlights the importance of training local professionals who can support robotic procedures. Reports indicate that plans are underway for a robotic academy that would train surgeons and other healthcare professionals, with a target of training at least 150 surgeons within two years.
While the procedure represents an important technological milestone, it does not mean robots can independently perform complex operations. The robotic system remains a tool controlled by a trained surgeon, while medical teams at the patient’s location remain an essential part of the procedure.
The successful Nigeria tele-robotic surgery therefore demonstrates how advances in robotics and telecommunications could gradually change the way specialised healthcare is delivered, particularly in a country where distance can sometimes determine how quickly patients can access specialist medical expertise.
