The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has officially approved the Toumai robotic surgical system for clinical use, marking a historic milestone that positions Nigeria as the first nation in West Africa to authorize a robotic surgery platform for patient care.
This regulatory clearance follows a rigorous assessment of the system’s safety and efficacy, which included successful robotic procedures conducted at NISA Premier Hospital in Abuja on November 22, 2025.
The surgeries utilized the Toumai system, manufactured by Shanghai MicroPort MedBot, and were led by Dr. Obi Ekwe, Chief Executive Officer of RoboMed.
In a statement following the approval on Wednesday, Dr. Ekwenna described the decision as a validation of NAFDAC’s stringent evaluation standards.
“This approval reflects NAFDAC’s thorough evaluation of the technology’s safety profile. Nigerian patients can trust that this platform meets the highest regulatory standards. They no longer need to travel abroad for world-class surgical care; we have brought it home,” he stated.
According to clinical data provided by the operators, the initial surgeries yielded impressive recovery times. Patients who underwent robotic nephrectomy and prostatectomy were discharged within 12 to 48 hours, a significantly shorter duration compared to the typical recovery timeline for open surgery.
The Toumai system is designed with three-dimensional visualization and multiple robotic arms to assist surgeons in performing complex procedures with enhanced accuracy.
Dr. Ekwe, who doubles as the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer, highlighted the clinical benefits of the technology.
“Robotic surgery delivers precision that the human hand cannot match. Our patients experienced it firsthand: faster recovery, less pain, quicker return to their lives,” he explained.
Efosa Eluma, Chief Operating Officer of RoboMed, noted that the approval establishes a framework for wider adoption of advanced medical technology in the region.
“This is proof that Africa can lead in healthcare innovation. We have built the foundation to scale, this is just the beginning,” Eluma said.
Dr. Ibrahim Wada, founder of NISA Premier Hospital, hailed the development as a major step toward reversing medical tourism. “We built NISA so Nigerians would no longer need to seek care abroad. Today, that vision is real,” he affirmed.
A public launch for the robotic platform is scheduled to take place in Abuja in January 2026.