Nigerian defence technology company Terra Industries has secured $2 million in contracts to provide security technology for lithium mining operations in Nigeria.
The contracts, signed with two undisclosed mining companies, mark the first commercial deal for Terra’s newly launched commercial division.
Under the agreements, Terra will deploy 20 sentry towers and four Iroko drones across the mining sites to provide surveillance, real-time threat detection and security response.
The systems will be coordinated through ArtemisOS, Terra’s proprietary autonomous command-and-control platform.
Expanding beyond government contracts
Terra launched its commercial division on August 28, 2026, with the goal of taking its autonomous security technology beyond government and military applications.
The company is targeting privately owned critical infrastructure across Africa, the Gulf, South America and South Asia.
Its entry into the mining sector comes as operators increasingly look for technology-driven solutions to protect assets in remote locations where conventional security coverage can be limited.
Terra’s rapid growth
Founded in 2024 by Nathan Nwachuku and Maxwell Maduka, Terra Industries has grown rapidly within Nigeria’s defence technology ecosystem.
In August alone, the company raised a $52 million seed round backed by investors including 8VC, Silent Ventures, Nova Global, Belief Capital, SV Angel and Norleo Space Investments.
Terra has also appointed former SpaceX executive Ben MacWilliams as Vice President of Strategy and announced plans to establish what it describes as Africa’s largest drone factory in Ghana, alongside its existing facility in Nigeria.
The company has previously deployed its technology to protect power plants, mines and other critical infrastructure valued at approximately $11 billion across several African countries.
Securing Nigeria’s growing lithium industry
The latest contracts come as Nigeria’s lithium resources attract increasing attention from investors and global industries seeking critical minerals for the energy transition.
As lithium demand continues to grow alongside electric vehicles and battery technologies, securing mining operations, particularly those located in remote areas—could become increasingly important.
For Terra, the $2 million deal represents more than its first commercial contract. It signals an expansion of autonomous security technology into one of Nigeria’s emerging strategic industries.
