Nigeria has performed its first tele-robotic surgery. The procedure was a telesurgery-assisted, robot-assisted right radical nephrectomy. It removed a kidney affected by a cancerous tumour. The surgery was performed in real time on Saturday. The surgeon operated from a Toumai console at Redeemer’s Health Village (RHV). The patient was at Nisa Premier Hospital, Abuja. The procedure lasted about three hours.
Nigeria’s healthcare system has long struggled with specialist shortages. Patients travel abroad for complex surgeries. Medical tourism drains foreign exchange and delays treatment for those who cannot afford to travel. Robotic surgery has been available in Nigeria since November 2025 at Nisa Premier Hospital. But telesurgery, where the surgeon operates from a different location, is new. The achievement follows years of investment in medical technology. It also reflects a broader push to reverse medical tourism.
Professor Obi Ekwenna-Davis led the surgery. He is a Professor of Urology and Transplantation and Co-Founder of RoboMed Global. He said the procedure demonstrated that telesurgery could be safely performed on patients in different parts of Nigeria and the world. “Distance should never decide who receives safe surgery,” he said. The patient was in good condition and expected to be discharged within 24 hours.
Dr Adedamola Dada, CEO of RHV, described it as the first telesurgery in West Africa. He said RHV was established to promote innovation and provide world-class healthcare at affordable costs. “What has happened today is a demonstration that Nigerians can access modern healthcare without travelling abroad,” he said.
Dr Ibrahim Wada, CEO of Nisa Premier Hospital, said the facility had been a centre for robotic surgery in West Africa since November 2025. “Today, our patient received specialist surgical expertise from across the country without leaving Abuja,” he said.
The initiative faces challenges. Connectivity can be affected by weather. Equipment quality and skilled personnel are critical. RHV is establishing a robotic academy with RoboMed Global. The goal is to train at least 150 surgeons within two years. The academy will also train nurses, biomedical engineers and product specialists. Ekwenna-Davis called for government support and scholarships for medical professionals.
Winners: Patients, who gain access to complex surgery without travelling abroad. RHV and Nisa Premier, which demonstrate innovation. Ekwenna-Davis and RoboMed Global, which gain recognition. Nigerian healthcare, which gains a milestone. Losers: Foreign hospitals, which lose Nigerian medical tourists. The status quo, which relied on travel for specialist care. Surgeons without access to robotic training. The government, if it fails to support the academy.
Bottom Line: Nigeria performed its first tele-robotic surgery. The patient was in Abuja. The surgeon was elsewhere. The procedure worked. The challenge is scaling it. One surgery is a milestone. A training academy is the plan. Government support will determine whether it becomes routine.