Nigeria Makes West African History With Remote Robotic Kidney Surgery

Nigeria Makes West African History With Remote Robotic Kidney Surgery

Nigeria has recorded a major milestone in advanced medical care after a patient in Abuja underwent kidney cancer surgery performed remotely by a surgeon in Ogun State.

The procedure, carried out on Saturday, was conducted from a Toumai robotic surgery console at the Redeemer’s Health Village (RHV), Ogun State, while the patient remained at Nisa Premier Hospital in Abuja.

The operation was performed through a partnership involving RHV, RoboMed Global and Nisa Premier Hospital.

Described as a telesurgery-assisted, robot-assisted right radical nephrectomy, the procedure involved the removal of a kidney affected by a cancerous tumour.

RHV said the operation was the first telesurgery procedure recorded in West Africa, marking a significant development in the use of robotic technology for specialist healthcare delivery.

Tele-robotic surgery enables a surgeon to control robotic surgical equipment from another location, allowing an operation to be performed without the surgeon being physically present in the operating theatre.

Prof. Obi Ekwenna-Davis, Professor of Urology and Transplantation, who led the operation, said the procedure demonstrated that specialist surgery could be delivered safely across geographical boundaries.

“Distance should never decide who receives safe surgery; this is what safe and trusted surgery looks like,” Ekwenna-Davis said.

The surgeon, who is also a co-founder of RoboMed Global and based in the United States, said the patient was in good condition after the operation and was expected to leave the hospital within 24 hours.

He said the surgery lasted about three hours, with short pauses taken to verify the performance of the robotic equipment and other supporting systems.

According to him, the operation also showed how healthcare institutions in different parts of Nigeria could collaborate to make specialised medical services accessible to patients regardless of their location.

Ekwenna-Davis said plans were underway to establish a robotic academy to develop local expertise in robotic surgery and other related fields.

The academy is expected to train at least 150 surgeons within its first two years, he said.

He added that the initiative had received backing from the Minister of Health and other government institutions, while appealing for additional support from private organisations and non-governmental bodies.

The Chief Executive Officer of RHV, Dr Adedamola Dada, said the successful operation showed that Nigerians could receive advanced medical treatment at home instead of travelling abroad.

“What has happened today is a demonstration that Nigerians can access modern healthcare without travelling abroad,” Dada said.

He explained that RHV was established to promote medical innovation and provide specialised healthcare at affordable costs.

Dada said the introduction of robotic and remote surgery could improve access to complex procedures while reducing the pressure on Nigerians to seek specialist treatment outside the country.

He also identified telesurgery as an avenue for transferring specialist expertise to patients in different parts of Nigeria.

However, Dada acknowledged that successful remote surgery depended on dependable connectivity, suitable equipment and trained personnel.

He said RHV had adopted measures to reduce the effects of possible network disruptions, although weather conditions could sometimes interfere with connectivity.

The hospital is also working with RoboMed Global to establish a robotic academy for doctors, surgeons, nurses, biomedical engineers and other specialists involved in robotic healthcare.

Dada urged the Federal Government to provide scholarships and other forms of support for Nigerians seeking specialised training in robotic surgery.

He said such investment could help the country develop a larger pool of professionals capable of performing robotic procedures within the next few years.

The Chief Executive Officer and founder of Nisa Premier Hospital, Dr Ibrahim Wada, said the hospital had operated as a robotic surgery centre in West Africa since November 2025.

“Today, our patient received specialist surgical expertise from across the country without leaving Abuja. This is what becomes possible when Nigerian institutions decide to build together,” Wada said.

Chairman of the RHV Board, Dr Kunle Onakoya, also described the operation as a historic achievement.

RHV is a faith-based 300-bed multispecialty hospital established by the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

Journalists at the Ogun State facility watched the procedure live as the surgeon remotely controlled the robotic system during the operation in Abuja.