Defence tech is a factor in Nigeria, however right here 3 startups doing it

When most individuals consider tech startups in Nigeria, their minds go straight to fintech, e-commerce, or perhaps logistics. Defence tech, nevertheless, isn’t one thing you see or hear about usually within the startup ecosystem.

It’s not mainstream, and never even on the radar of the typical tech fanatic or a potential founder

Nevertheless, in a rustic scuffling with safety challenges from terrorism and banditry to grease theft and cybercrime, a handful of quietly formidable startups are stepping up; they’re constructing instruments designed to assist nationwide and personal safety efforts.

Whether or not it’s native manufacturing of military-grade drones, AI-powered surveillance techniques, or safe communication platforms, defence tech in Nigeria is a factor, nevertheless small.

On this article, we have a look at three Nigerian defence tech startups daring to construct in an area few are watching—and what they’ve achieved up to now.

Why Nigeria has few defence tech startups

The explanation for the few defence tech startups in Nigeria isn’t far-fetched. Constructing a defence tech startup, which regularly includes {hardware} and deep tech, requires a considerable amount of funding and experience that isn’t available in an rising economic system like Nigeria.

Not like software program startups that may pivot and scale quick, defence tech firms want years of iteration, specialised expertise, and real-world testing. This stuff are a luxurious for many startups.

Apparently, it is usually tough even for the Nigerian army to construct this stuff. On the 2023 Annual Public Lecture of the NSE, Fortunate Irabor, Nigeria’s former Chief of Defence Workers, stated the nation lacked the power to provide army tools.

He attributed this to insufficient funding in analysis and growth (R&D) and an absence of technological functionality. Irabor emphasises that with out important developments in R&D and engineering, Nigeria will proceed to rely closely on overseas nations for arms and army supplies, thereby constraining the expansion of indigenous defence tech initiatives.

Infrastructure deficits additionally play a vital position. Sheriff Oladejo, Managing Director of IT agency TechEnd, additionally identified that insufficient infrastructure, restricted entry to dependable electrical energy, and regulatory hurdles are main challenges towards the total deployment of digital know-how and innovation in Nigeria.

These points are significantly detrimental to defence tech startups, which depend on secure infrastructure for analysis, growth, and deployment of their applied sciences.

Regardless of these challenges, some startups have managed to remain afloat, innovating, constructing merchandise which may put Nigeria on the map as a defence tech stronghold on this planet.

Listed here are a number of the startups.

Kifta Applied sciences

Based in 2018 by Monsuru Anifowoshe, Kifta Applied sciences emerged from a private problem within the textile enterprise—frequent disruptions in provide chains as a consequence of safety points. This led to the event of unmanned aerial automobiles (UAVs) to watch items in transit.

Kifta has since expanded its choices to incorporate good glasses geared up with facial and license plate recognition, in addition to varied UAV techniques tailor-made for firefighting, naval operations, and border safety. Their UAV prototype reportedly price $450,000 and took three years to develop.

Regardless of these improvements, Kifta faces challenges in Nigeria, resembling restricted entry to decision-makers in authorities businesses and infrastructure points like unreliable energy provide. Consequently, the corporate primarily serves purchasers exterior Nigeria and plans to determine a producing facility throughout the nation to qualify its merchandise as Nigerian-made.

Proforce Defence Restricted

Whereas Proforce Defence Restricted might not qualify as a startup within the conventional sense — particularly underneath the Nigerian Startup Act, which defines a startup as an organization lower than 10 years outdated — it’s unattainable to debate defence innovation in Nigeria with out mentioning its title.

Based in 2008 and thought to be Nigeria’s first defence manufacturing firm, Proforce is especially recognized for armoured car manufacturing. The corporate builds every thing from bulletproof personnel carriers and tactical automobiles to fight helmets and ballistic vests.

What units them aside is that they don’t seem to be simply assembling kits; they’re designing, engineering, and producing in Nigeria for each native and worldwide markets.

Proforce has equipped automobiles to the Nigerian Military, Nigerian Navy, and even governments throughout West Africa. Their automobiles are additionally getting used for convoy safety by personal safety corporations and oil firms working in risky areas.

Regardless of being a extra mature participant, Proforce’s presence is a testomony to what’s doable when defence tech is taken critically in Nigeria, particularly when backed by deep technical capability, authorities contracts, and a long-term view of producing.

Terrahaptix

Based in 2023 by Nigerian entrepreneurs Maxwell Maduka and Nathan Nwachuku, TerraHaptix started with a daring imaginative and prescient to place Africa on the map on the subject of {hardware} know-how.

Drawing from Maduka’s expertise as a lead drone engineer within the Nigerian Navy and Nwachuku’s background in tech entrepreneurship, the duo aimed to handle the continent’s urgent safety challenges with progressive options.

Nevertheless, TerraHaptix is extra centered on the industrial market than being a defence startup. This resolution was influenced by moral concerns and the will to keep away from the complexities related to army engagements, Co-founder Nwachuku acknowledged in an interview with Techpoint Africa final yr.

At present, TerraHaptix stands as a number one participant in Africa’s industrial drone business. Working from a 15,000-square-foot facility in Abuja’s Idu.

With over $2 million in orders inside its first yr and exports to 5 African nations, TerraHaptix exemplifies how Nigerian startups can overcome challenges and make important strides within the world tech enviornment.

In developed nations, defence tech startups have achieved effectively as a consequence of substantial authorities assist, sturdy funding. Within the US, for instance, enterprise capital funding in defence know-how surged by 33% in 2024, reaching $31 billion.

Equally, European defence tech startups have seen a major improve in funding, with investments rising over 500% between 2021 and 2024 in comparison with the earlier three years.

Though Nigeria lacks the mandatory authorities assist and VC backing, firms like Kifta Applied sciences and Proforce are making strides, growing indigenous options.

With these firms doing a lot with so little, maybe governments and VCs will likely be eager on offering the assist and cash wanted to bolster them.

Corporations with progressive merchandise like this will likely be on the Lagos Startup Expo (LSE), showcasing the stuff they’re manufactured from. Click on right here to be part of it.