In Nigeria, we often hear that “nothing works” and that government agencies are slow, opaque, or impossible to navigate. Over the past several months, I have had a very different experience with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
As Chief Operating Officer of Robomed, working in close partnership with Nisa Hospital in Abuja, where the Toumai Robotic Surgery system resides, I have seen first-hand that the process works, and it works in a way that protects patients and supports responsible
innovation.
Engaging the System, Not Fighting It
Our journey to introduce the Toumai robotic platform in Nigeria was not just about bringing in a machine. It involved questions of safety, quality, data, and long-term patient outcomes. That is precisely where NAFDAC’s role is critical.
From the outset, it was clear that the agency’s requirements, dossier submissions, clarifications, and consideration of performance audits were not arbitrary hurdles. They were structured around one core principle: patient safety.
Was the process rigorous? Yes. Were there many documents to prepare and questions to answer? Yes. But that is exactly what we should expect when we are talking about complex surgical technologies that will be used on Nigerian patients.
Collaboration, Not Adversarial Regulation
We often imagine regulators as distant and unapproachable. My experience with NAFDAC was the opposite. Officials were accessible, responsive, and willing to explain what was needed ateach stage, without compromising standards.
Two individuals deserve special mention.
Director, Dr. Khadijah Ade-Abolade, who leads the Vaccines and Infectious Diseases directorate, provided clear, principled leadership throughout our application. She maintained firmness on regulatory expectations while remaining open, communicative, and solution oriented.
Mr. Emmanuel Armon offered what I can honestly describe as an excellent step-by-step guide
through the lifecycle of the application, from initiation to approval. When we had questions, he answered them. When we needed direction, he gave it. When clarifications were required, he ensured we understood exactly what to do.In place of the opacity many people expect, we experienced:
● Clear checklists and expectations,
● Timely feedback, and
● Nigerians who cared about getting it right.
Why Rigour Matters in Robotics
Robotic surgery is not just another piece of equipment. It demands alignment between surgeons, biomedical engineers, IT systems, operating theatre workflows, and regulatory safeguards. NAFDAC’s thorough review of our dossiers, performance data, and technical documentation should not be dismissed as “red tape.” It is the mechanism by which Nigeria ensures that highend technologies meet appropriate standards before reaching our hospitals.
For patients, this rigor builds trust. For Nigeria’s wider health system, it signals that we can host advanced medical technology within a credible regulatory framework, not as a risky experiment.
A Win Beyond One Hospital
The approval of the Toumai Robotic Surgery platform is not just a milestone for Robomed or Nisa Hospital (where the robot resides). It is:
● A win for NAFDAC, demonstrating capacity to evaluate cutting-edge medical technology.
● A win for Nigeria, strengthening our position in health innovation on the continent.
● A win for West Africa, where patients increasingly need access to complex care closer to
home.
● Above all, a win for patients, who deserve safe, modern surgical options without always
having to travel abroad.
This achievement is also a testament to the trust-based collaboration between Robomed and Nisa Hospital a partnership that aligned clinical teams, hospital leadership, and operational systems around a shared goal: safe, high-quality robotic surgery for Nigerian patients.
In a region where many families bear the financial and emotional cost of overseas medical travel, this approval points to a different future: world-class interventions delivered locally under Nigerian oversight.
Reframing the Narrative Are
there challenges within our systems? Certainly. No institution is perfect, and there is always room for improvement. But we must also be willing to tell the other side of the story.
When you engage NAFDAC prepared, responsive, and willing to follow due process, the system
can and does deliver. My experience has been one of:
● Responsiveness, not silence;
● Structure, not chaos;
● Collaboration, not obstruction.
For this, I express my sincere appreciation to Director. Dr. Khadijah, Mr. Armon, and the wider NAFDAC team who walked this journey with us from first submission to final approval. They did not lower the bar; they upheld it, and in doing so, they helped ensure that innovation in Nigeria’s health sector is both exciting and safe.
As we celebrate this milestone, my hope is that more innovators, clinicians, and health entrepreneurs will approach NAFDAC not with fear, but with preparedness and partnership.
NAFDAC works. I have seen it up close.
Author bio (for the paper):
Ms. Efosa Eluma is the Chief Operating Officer of Robomed and a Global Clinical Operations and
Health-Technology leader working across North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. She led the
end-to-end regulatory and operational pathway for the introduction of the Toumai Robotic
Surgery platform at Nisa Hospital, Abuja.
