Nigeria has reached a major healthcare milestone, as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has approved the Toumai robotic surgical system, making the country the first in West Africa to clear robotic surgery for clinical use.
The approval confirms the safety and efficacy of the system, giving access to advanced surgical care for over 400 million people in the region.
The clearance follows West Africa’s first robotic surgeries, conducted on November 22, 2025, at NISA Premier Hospital, Abuja.
The patients involved recovered in 12 and 48 hours, significantly faster than traditional surgeries.
The Toumai system, manufactured by Shanghai-based MicroPort MedBot, uses four robotic arms and high-definition 3D visualisation, allowing surgeons to perform minimally invasive procedures with greater precision, smaller incisions, reduced pain, lower risk of complications, and faster recovery.
Dr. Obi Ekwenna, CEO of RoboMed, said the approval shows NAFDAC’s rigorous evaluation process and reassures patients of the technology’s safety.
He added, “They no longer need to travel abroad for world-class surgical care; we have brought it home.”
Other executives, including Dr. Altug Ergin of MicroPort Overseas Business and RoboMed leaders, hailed the approval as a historic milestone for Africa, emphasizing the continent’s capacity to lead in healthcare innovation.
Plans are underway to expand robotic surgery across Nigeria and train local surgeons through the RoboMed Academy.
A public launch of the robotic surgical platform is scheduled in Abuja in January 2026.
This approval positions Nigeria at the forefront of surgical innovation in Africa, demonstrating that advanced medical technology can be successfully implemented and scaled on the continent.