Nigeria has recorded a major milestone in advanced healthcare after surgeons successfully performed a tele-robotic operation on a patient in Abuja while the surgical team was located about 500 kilometres away in Ogun State.
The procedure, described by the participating institutions as the first tele-robotic surgery in West Africa, was carried out by Redeemer’s Health Village (RHV) in collaboration with RoboMed Global and Nisa Premier Hospital, Abuja.
The operation involved a robot-assisted right radical nephrectomy, a procedure performed to remove a kidney affected by a cancerous tumour.
The patient remained at Nisa Premier Hospital in Abuja while Professor Obi Ekwenna-Davis, Professor of Urology and Transplantation and co-founder of RoboMed Global, controlled the robotic surgical system remotely from a Toumai console at RHV in Mowe, Ogun State.
Reports indicate that the approximately three-hour procedure relied on Starlink satellite internet connectivity, with MTN providing backup connectivity to support communication between the surgeon and the robotic system.
Tele-robotic surgery allows surgeons to perform operations on patients who are physically located in another location. The surgeon controls robotic instruments from a remote console, while medical teams remain with the patient to provide on-site support.
The successful operation demonstrates how advances in robotics and telecommunications could help bridge geographical barriers to specialist healthcare, particularly in a country where access to highly specialised medical expertise can vary significantly between locations.
Prof. Ekwenna-Davis said the procedure demonstrated the potential for telesurgery to be safely performed across significant distances, while RHV described the development as an important step toward expanding access to modern surgical care within Nigeria.
The patient was reportedly in good condition following the operation and was expected to be discharged within 24 hours.
Beyond the landmark procedure itself, the development has drawn attention to the potential role of telemedicine and robotic technology in reducing the need for patients to travel long distances — or outside Nigeria — to access certain forms of specialised medical care.
The participating institutions have also indicated plans to strengthen training in robotic surgery, with the aim of developing more medical professionals capable of using the technology.
The achievement marks another step in Nigeria’s growing adoption of robotic-assisted surgery and demonstrates how reliable digital connectivity can potentially extend specialist medical expertise beyond the physical location of the surgeon.
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