NAFDAC Approves West Africa’s First Robotic Surgical Platform

Nigeria has recorded a major breakthrough in healthcare innovation after the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) granted regulatory approval for the Toumai robotic surgical system, positioning the country as the first in West Africa to clear a robotic surgery platform for clinical use. The approval, announced on 31 December 2025, confirms that the Toumai system developed by Shanghai-based MicroPort MedBot has met Nigeria’s safety and efficacy standards, opening the door to advanced surgical care for more than 400 million people across the sub-region. The clearance follows the successful completion of West Africa’s first robotic surgeries at NISA Premier Hospital in Abuja on 22 November 2025, where procedures were performed by Dr. Obi Ekwenna, Chief Executive Officer of RoboMed.

The surgeries demonstrated the system’s clinical capability, with two patients discharged within 12 and 48 hours respectively, highlighting significantly faster recovery times compared to traditional open surgery. The Toumai system enables surgeons to carry out complex procedures using high-precision 3D visualisation and four robotic arms, allowing for minimally invasive surgery that results in smaller incisions, reduced pain, fewer complications, and quicker patient recovery.

Reacting to the development, Dr. Altug Ergin, First Vice President of MicroPort Overseas Business, described the approval as a milestone not only for Nigeria but for healthcare delivery across emerging markets, noting that the expansion of robotic surgery into West Africa reflects a shared vision to make advanced medical technology accessible worldwide. RoboMed’s Chief Operating Officer, Efosa Eluma, welcomed the approval as proof that Africa can lead in healthcare innovation, while Chief Medical Officer Dr. Iyore James emphasised the precision of the system and the positive outcomes already recorded from the initial procedures.

Founder of NISA Premier Hospital, Dr. Ibrahim Wada, OON, said the approval fulfilled a long-held vision of providing world-class healthcare locally and reducing the need for Nigerians to seek advanced surgical treatment abroad. Following the regulatory clearance, RoboMed announced plans to expand its operations through partnerships with hospitals across Nigeria and the wider region, alongside the launch of the RoboMed Academy to train local surgeons in robotic procedures and ensure long-term capacity building. A public launch of the Toumai robotic surgical platform is scheduled to take place in Abuja in January 2026.

Egwu patience