Nigeria’s defence technology ecosystem has entered a pivotal phase as local innovators, academic institutions, and military research units advance a new generation of indigenous solutions in artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous systems, and advanced manufacturing.
The nation’s defence posture has been steadily evolving since 2025 beyond reliance on foreign procurement toward homegrown research and development.
Despite constrained funding and infrastructure gaps, Nigerian engineers and technologists are developing systems tailored to the country’s operational realities, which include asymmetric warfare, border security, insurgency, maritime crime, and the protection of critical national infrastructure.
Some notable indigenous defence-tech innovations and prototypes are now emerging, signaling Nigeria’s growing capacity to design software-led, AI-enabled, and data-driven security systems.
Speaking on the importance of local innovation, Adetokunbo Ogundeyin, Group Managing Director of Proforce Defence, said: “We are seeing the emergence of local engineering capability that understands our terrain, our threats, and our operational constraints. That foundation is essential for sustainable national security.”
Olusola Ayoola, Founder and CEO of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN), emphasised the operational impact of AI on security: “AI allows us to multiply the effectiveness of manpower. It enhances early warning, situational awareness, and decision-making in environments where time and visibility are critical,’’ he said.
Among the notable innovations are: ArtemisOS & Autonomous Drone Swarms, developed by Terra Industries’ founders Nathan Nwachuku and Maxwell Maduka, enabling single-operator control of self-organising drone swarms for surveillance and defence, Digitally Enhanced MRAPs by Proforce Defence, under Adetokunbo Ogundeyin, integrating C4i systems and drone intelligence into armoured vehicles as mobile command centres and Digital Twin Reverse Engineering by the Nigerian Air Force 431 Engineering Group, restoring grounded aircraft through locally fabricated components.
Other contributions include: Computer Vision–Enabled Combat Drones from Briech UAS, led by Bright Echefu, optimised for Sahelian and bush terrain, Offline Biometric Border Booths designed by Kola Balogun, strengthening border security in low-connectivity environments, Physics-Informed Warhead Design, a collaboration between Oida Energy led by Emeka Ene and DICON, applying neural networks to precision munitions and Falcon Eye AI Upgrade by the Nigerian Navy, using behavioural analytics to detect suspicious maritime activity.
Additional Inputs are: Generative AI for Aircraft Spares pioneered by researchers at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), AI-Stabilised Remote Weapon Stations developed by DICON R&D, enhancing accuracy and troop safety, Carbon Emission Tracker (CET) Drone by Dr Olusola Ayoola, detecting concealed human activity via emissions sensing, “Cyber-Shield”, deployed by the Army Cyber Warfare Command, using unsupervised machine learning to block network anomalies and Smart Soldier IoT Ballistic Vests from EPAIL Tech Labs, enabling real-time health and location monitoring of troops.
Other initiatives include: Predictive Logistics AI (“Logic-Loom”), aligned with the Army Corps of Supply’s digital transformation agenda, AI Weapon-Detection Surveillance System developed by Sobowale Bukola at the University of Ibadan, under Dr Ayoola Saheed, Acoustic Shot Localisation Systems, emerging from private-sector innovation for counter-insurgency operations and Autonomous Riverine Navigation Concepts, aligned with the Nigerian Navy’s ongoing maritime modernisation.
Among the initiatives, Terra Industries has recently secured $11.75 million from U.S. investors through its drone technologies. The raise, now the largest funding round recorded in Africa’s emerging defence-technology sector, distinguishes Terra from a growing field of regional competitors and underscores increasing investor confidence in vertically integrated defence solutions across the continent.
Ishau is a marketing analyst
