Nigeria has recorded a significant development in remote surgical care following a tele-robotic operation in which a patient at Nisa Premier Hospital in Abuja underwent kidney cancer surgery using a robotic surgical console at the Redeemer’s Health Village (RHV) in Ogun State.
The procedure was carried out in real time on Saturday, September 19, 2026, in a collaboration involving RHV, RoboMed Global and Nisa Premier Hospital.
According to reports by the News Agency of Nigeria and Premium Times, the operation was described as Nigeria’s first tele-robotic surgery and the first telesurgery procedure in West Africa by RHV.
Procedure Involved Kidney Tumour Removal
The operation was identified as a telesurgery-assisted, robot-assisted right radical nephrectomy, a surgical procedure involving the removal of a kidney affected by a cancerous tumour.
The surgical team operated remotely from a Toumai robotic surgery console at RHV, while the patient was located at the Abuja hospital.
Tele-robotic surgery allows surgeons to operate on patients from a different physical location using robotic systems and communications technology. The approach requires coordination between the remote surgical team, the hospital caring for the patient and the systems supporting the procedure.
Implications for Healthcare Delivery
The procedure highlights the potential application of advanced surgical technology in expanding access to specialised medical expertise across geographical distances.
However, the success of an individual procedure does not by itself establish the broader availability, affordability or long-term impact of tele-robotic surgery in Nigeria. Those factors depend on clinical outcomes, infrastructure, training, regulation and the sustainability of the technology.
The reported operation marks a notable development in the use of robotic systems for complex surgical care in Nigeria.