Nigerian Drone Firm Gets US Tech Backing | By David Kwakutse |
US technology investor Joe Lonsdale, a co-founder of data-analytics company Palantir Technologies, has led an $11.8 million funding round in Nigerian defence-technology startup Terra Industries, underscoring growing foreign investor interest in Africa’s security and industrial protection capabilities.
The investment, announced on January 12, 2026, was led by Lonsdale’s venture capital firm 8VC. Alex Moore, a defence-focused partner at 8VC and a non-executive director at Palantir, joined Terra’s board last year, further strengthening the company’s strategic links to the US defence and technology ecosystem.
Founded in 2024 by Nathan Nwachuku and Maxwell Maduka, Terra Industries is based in Abuja and designs and manufactures long- and mid-range drones, autonomous sentry towers and uncrewed ground vehicles. The company provides security solutions for infrastructure assets across Africa estimated at $11 billion, including hydropower facilities in Nigeria and gold and lithium mining operations in Ghana.
“Africa is industrialising faster than any other region, with new mines, refineries and power plants emerging every month,” Nwachuku said. “But none of that progress will matter if we don’t solve the continent’s greatest Achilles’ heel, which is insecurity and terrorism.”
The investment comes as West Africa faces rising security threats, with extremist groups linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda expanding their footprint across the region. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has declared a regional state of emergency in response to the escalating situation.
Terra said the new capital will be used to expand manufacturing capacity and accelerate cross-border security and counter-terrorism deployments, particularly around critical infrastructure. For countries such as Ghana and Nigeria, where energy, mining and transport assets underpin economic growth, the backing of a high-profile US investor signals increasing confidence in locally developed security technology.
The funding round also drew participation from Valor Equity Partners, Lux Capital, SV Angel, Leblon Capital, Silent Ventures, Nova Global, and angel investors including Meyer Malka of Ribbit Capital.
Terra emphasises that most of its engineering and production is based in Africa, positioning the company as a rare example of homegrown defence innovation attracting global capital to address the continent’s most pressing security challenges.
Nigerian Drone Firm Gets US Tech Backing | By David Kwakutse | AviationGhana
