Although it sounds like something out of a science-fiction movie, such a procedure has reportedly taken place in Nigeria.

On September 19, 2026, a team at Nisa Premier Hospital in Abuja collaborated with Redeemer’s Health Village in Ogun State to perform a tele-robotic operation in which a surgeon remotely controlled a robotic system to remove a kidney affected by cancer.

The procedure has sparked renewed discussions about how technology could improve access to specialist healthcare in Nigeria, where some patients travel abroad to seek advanced medical treatment.

However, beyond the excitement surrounding a surgeon operating on a patient from another state, important questions remain about the safety and practicality of the technology.

How safe is remote surgery? What happens if the internet connection suddenly fails during an operation? And, perhaps most importantly, will ordinary Nigerians be able to afford such procedures?

In an interview with Naija News, the Chief Executive Officer of Redeemer’s Health Village, Dr Adedamola Dada, discussed how the operation was conducted, the precautions taken and why he believes tele-robotic surgery could reshape access to specialised medical care in Nigeria.

Tele-robotic surgery enables a surgeon to operate on a patient from a different location by controlling robotic instruments through a high-speed internet connection.

Unlike conventional surgery, where the surgeon works directly beside the patient, the specialist operates from a console that transmits commands to the robotic system at the patient’s location.

Explaining the technology, Dada told Naija News that the defining feature of the procedure was the physical distance between the surgeon and the patient.

“What makes tele-robotic surgery different is the distance between the surgeon and the patient. In our case, the patient was in Abuja while the surgeon was at Redeemer’s Health Village in Ogun State, about 500 kilometres away,” he said.

Dada stressed that the robotic system does not perform the operation independently. Instead, the surgeon remains in control of the instruments throughout the procedure.

He explained that the technology could enable patients to access specialist expertise without having to travel long distances to meet the surgeons themselves.

“If a specialist is in another city, or even in another country, technology can potentially allow that expertise to reach the patient without the patient having to travel,” he said.

Inside The Three-Hour Operation

On September 19, 2026, Redeemer’s Health Village, RoboMed Global and Nisa Premier Hospital in Abuja collaborated on what the participating institutions described as Nigeria’s first tele-robotic surgical procedure.

Professor Obi Davies-Ekwenna operated the robotic system remotely from Ogun State while the patient remained at Nisa Premier Hospital in Abuja.

The procedure, known as a right radical nephrectomy, involved removing a kidney affected by a cancerous tumour.

The operation lasted approximately three hours, with a medical team physically present in Abuja to manage the patient’s anaesthesia, monitor vital signs and provide other essential aspects of care.

According to Dada, the remote surgeon controlled the robotic instruments while the team in Abuja remained responsible for the patient’s immediate medical needs.

“The remote surgeon controlled the robotic instruments used for the surgical procedure. At the same time, there was a complete medical team physically present with the patient in Abuja,” he told Naija News.

He explained that the approach brings together remote surgical expertise and the work of medical professionals at the patient’s location.

“It is not about replacing doctors and nurses at the patient’s location. It is about connecting the patient-side team with specialised surgical expertise that may be somewhere else,” Dada said.

What Happens If The Internet Connection Fails?

One of the biggest concerns surrounding tele-robotic surgery is the possibility of an internet disruption while an operation is underway.

Because the surgeon controls the robotic instruments remotely, a sudden loss of connectivity could create a serious challenge if appropriate safeguards are not in place.

Dada disclosed that Starlink served as the primary internet connection during the procedure, while MTN provided backup connectivity.

He added that the teams monitored the systems and paused at intervals to ensure everything was functioning properly.

“You cannot depend on one system alone,” he said, highlighting the importance of having a qualified medical team physically present with the patient in Abuja.

However, Dada did not disclose the precise internet latency recorded during the operation or provide details of a tested emergency handover procedure in the event of a complete connection failure.

These details remain important when assessing the safety and reliability of remote surgery, particularly when the procedure involves complex operations.

Dada said the hospital would continue working to improve its technical safeguards and emergency protocols as it develops the technology.

The experience has highlighted both the potential of tele-robotic surgery to expand access to specialist healthcare and the need for robust connectivity, reliable backup systems and clear emergency procedures before the approach can be adopted more widely.