Nigerian drone makers look to move core operations to Ghana

The indigenous drone manufacturers in Nigeria, Terrahaptix Inc. (also referred to as Terra Industries), are looking at an expansion move that would take it beyond its borders to one of the strongest markets in West Africa, Ghana.

• Terrahaptix Inc., a Nigerian drone manufacturer, is expanding to Ghana to establish its first facility outside Nigeria, targeting the growing West African security market.
• The new Accra-based center will produce autonomous aircraft and defense systems in response to escalating Islamist-militant operations in the region.
• The Sahel region is experiencing increased terrorist activity, with militants using advanced drone technologies that challenge traditional defenses.
• Terrahaptix raised $34 million in rapid funding rounds, led by Lux Capital, bringing its valuation above $100 million in under two years.

This move would ensure that the company sets up its first facility outside Nigeria, designated for the production of mid-range autonomous aircraft and defense systems, established to address the escalation of Islamist-militant operations within the West African region.

The company, via a statement released on Monday, noted that the new facility, intended for Accra, Ghana’s capital, would function as the company's main regional manufacturing center for its drone and counter-drone systems.

Months prior to this announcement, the company founded by Nathan Nwachuku and Maxwell Maduka in 2024, had raised $34 million from investors like Lux Capital and Joe Lonsdale.

As seen on Bloomberg, the Sahel region of West Africa is currently recognized as a center for terrorist activities, with insurgent groups increasingly employing modified commercial drones to target military installations.

Nathan Nwachukwu, co-founder of Terrahaptix Inc., has observed a significant rise in the deployment of these unmanned aerial vehicles, particularly those utilizing fiber-optic systems.

This technological shift has notably diminished the efficacy of traditional electronic defense mechanisms.

“We are now seeing tactics and technologies from conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe begin to appear in Africa,” Nwachukwu said of the evolution in attack systems used by militants.

Terra Industries has already finalized successful trials of its drone-interceptor technology alongside various West African countries, underscoring a strategic pivot into the development of combat-oriented drone platforms.

To back this evolution, the company is increasing its production of aerial-combat equipment and committing resources to the Ghana facility, as it accounts for the emergence of unique technological threats.

“Our projection is to reach 50,000 units within the first two years, driven primarily by military demand across West Africa, particularly within Ecowas,” according to the statement, referring to the Economic Community of West African States.

Construction of the facility is currently approaching its final stages, with full operational capacity anticipated by the conclusion of June.

Terra Industries funding

In February, it was reported that the company had raised $22 million in a follow-on round completed in under two weeks, barely a month after closing an $11.8 million funding round.

The quick extension raised the company's valuation above $100 million and increased its total fundraising to $34 million, an uncommon accomplishment for a hardware business that was just established two years ago.

By African startup standards, where businesses can spend months or even years obtaining follow-on finance, the raise's quickness is exceptional.

Lux Capital led the round, which included return participation from 8VC, Nova Global, and Silent Ventures.

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New investors include Belief Capital, Tofino Capital, and Resilience17 Capital, which was created by Flutterwave CEO Olugbenga Agboola. Jordan Nel, an angel investor, and Jared Leto, a Hollywood actor, also joined the round.

Lux Capital recently raised $1.5 billion and has funded several big US defense technology companies. Its continuing support demonstrates rising investor trust in Terra's concept.

Investor interest grew as Terra displayed faster-than-expected commercial momentum, according to the company's management.