Drone Manufacturer Wants to Protect Africa’s Assets

October 21, 2025

Terra Industries, a Nigerian robotics startup founded in 2024 by Maxwell Maduka and Nathan Nwachuku, is developing AI-powered drones and autonomous security systems to protect Africa's critical infrastructure from attacks. The company operates Africa's largest drone factory outside Abuja, capable of producing 30,000 drones annually, and recently secured a $1. 2 million contract to deploy surveillance systems at Nigerian hydroelectric plants.

Who is affected

African critical infrastructure (energy, mining, telecoms, agriculture)
Private security firms like NetHawk Solutions
Hydroelectric power plants in Nigeria
Mining operations (lithium mines, gold mines)
Oil refineries across Africa
Local economies dependent on infrastructure
Foreign investors in African infrastructure projects

What action is being taken

Terra Industries is building autonomous security systems powered by AI and drones
The company is operating a 15,000-square-foot drone factory outside Abuja
Terra is deploying AI-powered drones and surveillance towers at two hydroelectric plants in Nigeria
The company is manufacturing key components in-house including software, airframes, propellers, and lithium-ion battery packs
Terra is partnering with local cloud platform PipeOps to maintain data sovereignty

Why it matters

Attacks on critical infrastructure threaten local economies and discourage foreign investment
Militant groups and civil conflicts have disrupted operations at mines and refineries
Security concerns have prevented countries like Nigeria from meeting production quotas
Terra's locally-manufactured solutions are up to 55% cheaper than international competitors
The company's focus on data sovereignty keeps sensitive information "within African hands"
Terra has generated $1.9 million in revenue despite raising less than $600,000 in funding

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint