Abuja-based defence-technology and robotics startup Terra Industries has secured $2 million in contracts to provide security and surveillance for lithium mining operations in Nigeria.
The contracts were secured just one week after the company launched its new commercial division, marking an early expansion of Terra’s autonomous security technology into privately operated critical infrastructure.
Under the agreements, Terra Industries will deploy 20 autonomous sentry towers and four Iroko drones across lithium mining sites operated by two companies in Nigeria.
The systems are designed to provide continuous surveillance, detect potential threats and give operators a clearer picture of activities around their sites.
The development is significant as Nigeria continues to attract investment into its lithium and broader solid minerals sector, while mining companies face concerns around theft, illegal mining, sabotage and the security of remote mining locations.
Terra said its commercial division was created to provide autonomous security systems to privately owned infrastructure, including mines, power plants, pipelines, ports and refineries.
The company launched the division on August 28, saying its technology could help private infrastructure operators protect valuable assets while reducing the cost and risks associated with conventional security operations.
The latest contracts demonstrate how Nigeria’s growing technology and mining sectors are beginning to intersect.
Rather than relying entirely on traditional security personnel, mining operators can use a combination of autonomous towers, drones and software to monitor large areas and identify potential threats in real time.
Terra’s Iroko is a modular quadcopter designed for first response, surveillance and infrastructure inspection. The company says the drone has a range of up to 50 kilometres, can remain airborne for up to 50 minutes and can carry payloads including electro-optical/infrared, LiDAR and multispectral systems.
The company’s autonomous Kallon sentry tower can detect, identify and track potential threats, with Terra listing an observation range of up to five kilometres and 24-hour solar-powered operation.
Together, the technologies are intended to provide mining operators with persistent monitoring rather than relying solely on human patrols.
The contracts also come as Terra expands its focus from government and defence-related work into the commercial protection of critical infrastructure.
Since its founding in 2024, the company says its technology has been deployed to protect power plants, mines and other nationally important assets worth approximately $11 billion across multiple African countries.
Terra was founded by Nigerian entrepreneurs Nathan Nwachuku and Maxwell Maduka and has developed a range of autonomous systems, including aerial drones, ground vehicles and AI-powered surveillance towers.
The company has attracted significant attention in Africa’s emerging defence-technology sector, with its systems already being used in security applications involving energy and mining infrastructure.
The latest $2 million contracts could therefore represent an important step in the company’s commercial expansion, particularly as private operators increasingly look for technology-driven ways to secure valuable assets.
For Nigeria’s mining sector, the deployment could also signal a broader shift towards the use of locally developed technology to address security challenges.
Lithium has become increasingly important to Nigeria’s solid minerals ambitions because of its role in battery production and the global transition towards electric vehicles and renewable energy storage.
As investment grows, securing mining sites and ensuring that valuable minerals can be extracted and transported safely will remain an important concern.
Terra’s latest contracts place Nigerian-developed robotics and autonomous surveillance technology directly within that emerging industry.
With 20 sentry towers and four Iroko drones expected to be deployed across the two mining operations, the company is positioning its technology as part of the security infrastructure supporting Nigeria’s growing lithium industry.
The development also highlights the changing face of security in the country, where robotics, artificial intelligence, drones and autonomous monitoring systems are increasingly being used alongside conventional security measures to protect critical economic assets.
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