In Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, fintech and e‑commerce often dominate the headlines, but in a nation like Nigeria, which is grappling with terrorism, oil theft, banditry, and kidnappings, there is another sector known as defence technology that is emerging.
There are startups and companies building tools for national security, despite the odds stacked against them as developing defence technology often demands vast funding, deep technical expertise, years of iteration, and real‑world testing, which is a luxury in an emerging economy like Nigeria.
As insecurity persists, the innovators are showing that Nigeria’s defence tech potential is vast but under‑realised. With stronger policy support, funding, and public‑private collaboration, the tools being designed could scale to secure not just Nigeria but the wider African continent.
Unlike software startups that can pivot quickly, defence innovators face steep capital requirements, long development cycles, and complex ethical and regulatory hurdles. However, a growing number of Nigerian founders are finding ways to design, manufacture, and deploy homegrown security solutions.
Globally, defence tech thrives with robust funding. In 2024, US venture capital investment in defence technology surged 33 percent to $31 billion, while European defence startups saw funding grow over 500 percent between 2021 and 2024 compared to the previous three years.
Read also: Has the military tech failed to tame Nigeria’s insecurity?
Nigeria, by contrast, lacks sustained government backing and venture capital support for the sector. Yet companies like Kifta, Proforce, RAIN, and TerraHaptix are proving that innovative, indigenous solutions can be built even in resource‑constrained environments.
Kifta Technologies
Founded in 2018 by Monsuru Anifowoshe, Kifta Technologies was born out of a personal challenge, which is securing goods in transit for his textile business.
The company began by developing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for supply chain monitoring but has since expanded into smart glasses with facial and license plate recognition, as well as UAV systems for border surveillance, firefighting, and naval operations.
Kifta’s first UAV prototype cost $450,000 and took three years to build. Despite these innovations, limited access to decision‑makers and unreliable infrastructure in Nigeria have pushed Kifta to focus on foreign clients. Plans are underway to establish a local manufacturing facility to qualify its products as Nigerian‑made.
Proforce Defence Limited
This is not a startup by Nigerian Startup Act standards, but having been founded in 2008, Proforce remains a cornerstone of the country’s defence manufacturing sector. It designs and builds armoured personnel carriers, tactical vehicles, combat helmets, and ballistic vests entirely in Nigeria.
Its products serve the Nigerian Army, Navy, and governments across West Africa, as well as private security firms and oil companies operating in high‑risk regions.
Read also: The cost of cyber insecurity: How it affects Nigeria’s digital economy
Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN)
RAIN was developed by Olusola Ayoola, founder of RAIN, who has developed a Carbon Emission Detection Drone (CEDT) capable of tracking CO₂ spikes from human activity in forests, caves, or other concealed areas.
By pairing this with geo‑spatial intelligence, the system can help locate kidnappers, bandits, or insurgents in otherwise inaccessible terrain such as the Niger Delta creeks. While the CEDT is yet to be approved for large‑scale deployment, it represents a major leap for locally developed counterinsurgency technology.
TerraHaptix
Launched in 2023 by Maxwell Maduka, a former Nigerian Navy drone engineer, and Nathan Nwachuku, TerraHaptix operates from a 15,000‑square‑foot facility in Abuja.
The company has chosen to focus on the commercial drone market for ethical reasons, and its technology has clear security applications.
Within its first year, TerraHaptix secured over $2 million in orders and exported to five African countries.
Read also: FG urged to tackle insecurity, cyber-crime
Digital Encode Limited
Digital Encode safeguards telecoms and financial institutions through risk management, assurance, and compliance solutions by building a secure digital layer to complement physical defence efforts.
Obadare Adewale, a pioneer in cybersecurity, is Africa’s first EC‑Council Licensed Penetration Tester, and his firm is Digital Encode.
EIB Group / Stractoc Industry
Under the leadership of Bright Echefu, EIB Group manufactures surveillance drones, thermal imaging devices, military‑grade explosives, and optics domestically. The company also produces bulletproof gear and other tactical equipment, reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imports and saving foreign exchange.
