Nigerian doctors make history by using a robot to operate on a kidney tumor patient in Abuja from Ogun State using internet.
History was made in Nigeria on Saturday, September 19, 2026, when doctors performed West Africa’s first long-distance computer-assisted operation.
A big team of specialist doctors worked together to cut out a dangerous sickness called a kidney tumor from a sick patient.
The most surprising part is that the lead surgeon, who controlled the machines, sat in Mowe, Ogun State, while the patient lay in a hospital bed in Abuja, about 500 kilometers away.
This special way of doing medical work is called long-distance computer surgery. It means a doctor does not need to stand directly beside the patient inside the operating room.
Instead, the doctor sits in front of a special computer screen called a console and moves tiny hand controls. When the doctor moves his hands, fast internet sends the signals straight to a machine standing next to the patient in another city. The machine then moves its small arms to cut and fix the exact spot the doctor wants.
This historic event was made possible through a big team effort involving Redeemer’s Health Village in Ogun State, RoboMed Global, and Nisa Premier Hospital in Abuja.
To make sure the computer signal did not cut off while the doctor was cutting the patient, the team used strong space internet from Starlink and backed it up with the MTN network.
The main doctor who led the historic operation, Professor Obi Ekwenna-Davis, who is a top expert from the United States working with RoboMed Global, said, “Distance should never decide who receives safe surgery; this is what safe and trusted surgery looks like”.
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He explained that the entire operation lasted about three hours. They stopped a few times briefly just to check and make sure all computer wires, machines, and screen pictures were working perfectly without any delay.
Professor Ekwenna-Davis added that the patient came out of the theater in very good condition and would be strong enough to go home within 24 hours.
The success of this operation means Nigerian sick people do not need to spend huge amounts of money flying to Europe, America, or India just to get specialized treatment.
Explaining how this helps the country, the head of Redeemer’s Health Village, Dr. Adedamola Dada, said, “What has happened today is a demonstration that Nigerians can access modern healthcare without travelling abroad”.
Many people often think that when a machine is used, the machine is thinking and working all by itself. To clear this wrong thought, the Chairman of the board at Redeemer’s Health Village, Dr. Kunle Onakoya, explained that a human being is still in full control.
Dr. Kunle Onakoya stated, “The robot is still being controlled by a human being, by a very experienced and senior surgeon. It is just that the skills of that surgeon are now being magnified many times over by the robot”.
Jennifer Baba is a journalist, international news correspondent, and writer at Moderncrux, where she covers artificial intelligence, fintech, emerging technologies, global politics, and international affairs. Based in Nigeria, she is passionate about transforming complex global developments into clear, engaging stories that inform and inspire readers.
