Nigeria Records 1st Tele-Robotic Surgery As Surgeon Operates On Abuja Patient From Ogun

Nigeria has recorded its first tele-robotic surgery, with a surgeon in Ogun State remotely operating on a patient in Abuja in what has been described as a major milestone for healthcare technology in Nigeria and West Africa.

The procedure, a robot-assisted right radical nephrectomy to remove a cancerous kidney tumour, was performed through a collaboration involving Redeemer’s Health Village (RHV), RoboMed Global and Nisa Premier Hospital.

While the patient remained at Nisa Premier Hospital in Abuja, the surgeon operated a robotic surgical system remotely from the Redeemer’s Health Village facility in Redemption City, Ogun State, about 500 kilometres away.

The operation, which lasted approximately three hours, was carried out using the Chinese-made Toumai robotic surgical system. Starlink provided the primary internet connection for the procedure, while MTN broadband served as a backup.

The achievement demonstrates the potential of tele-robotic technology to enable specialists to provide surgical care to patients in locations where particular expertise may not be readily available.

According to footage of the historic feat shared by Channels Television, the surgeon Professor Obi Ekwenna-Davis, Professor of Urology and Transplantation, who led the surgery, explained the procedure, saying the technology allowed him to control the robotic equipment inside the patient in Abuja from the console in Ogun State.

“Basically, I’ll be able to control the equipment that’s inside the patient in Abuja from here and be able to perform the surgery,” the surgeon said.

“So, there’s no patient here, as you can see, but the patient that will be operated on is in Abuja. So, I’ll be able to do the surgery as if the patient is sitting next to me.”

The operation was conducted using a high-speed connection designed to minimise delays between the surgeon’s movements and the robotic arms carrying out the procedure on the patient.

According to the medical team, the patient responded well to the procedure, with minimal blood loss recorded.

“The patient has done very well, lost minimal blood, and did exceptionally well and, all things being equal, should be able to go home probably tomorrow,” the team said after the operation.

The Chief Executive Officer of Redeemer’s Health Village, Dr Adedamola Dada, said the use of robotic surgery could reduce trauma associated with conventional surgery and potentially shorten hospital stays.

The development is also being viewed as a step towards expanding access to specialist surgical expertise beyond major medical centres.

Chairman of Redeemer’s Health Village, Dr Kunle Onakoya, described the development as a significant moment for the hospital and Nigerian healthcare.

“For me, it is immensely gratifying that this kind of technology is not only available, it’s available in Nigeria, it’s available at the Redeemer’s Health Hospital, and that, glory be to God, I’m alive and still practicing to witness that kind of evolution,” Onakoya said.

He said the hospital was working towards making advanced medical technology more accessible within Nigeria.

The Chief Operating Officer of Redeemer’s Health Village, Dr Laura Ade, said the objective was not merely to conduct a demonstration but to establish a sustainable system capable of delivering advanced healthcare in Nigeria.

“I’m excited because when you work so hard for something, and God is backing you up, when you get results like this, it’s exciting,” Ade said.

She added that the hospital’s recent experience with patients recovering quickly after robotic procedures had strengthened confidence in the technology.

“Oftentimes, people just come and leave. That’s not what we’re here about. We’re about building a system that is going to be sustainable,” she said.

Ade also said the initiative could help Nigerians living abroad feel more confident about accessing advanced medical care at home.

“And again, like I said, thirdly, for us in the diaspora to feel comfortable to come home because we can get that same quality of care here in Nigeria,” she added.

The procedure involved a multidisciplinary team working across the two locations, with medical and operations personnel at Redeemer’s Health Village collaborating with the team at Nisa Premier Hospital, RoboMed Global and technology partners.

The successful completion of the operation marks a significant development in the application of robotics and telecommunications to healthcare in Nigeria.

It also raises the possibility of remotely delivered specialist procedures becoming more widely used in the future, particularly for patients who may otherwise have to travel long distances to access highly specialised surgeons.