Trump ally Joe Lonsdale invests in Nigerian drone startup Terrahaptix
President Donald Trump’s ally and Palantir Technologies founder Joe Lonsdale has led investors to raise $11.7 million for Terrahaptix, a Nigerian startup that builds defence drones to bolster security systems across Africa.
Terrahaptix was co-founded by 22-year-old Nathan Nwachukwu and 24-year-old Maxwell Maduka in 2024 to tackle terrorism and insecurity crises assailing the continent.
Mr Nwachukwu said Terrahaptix secured $11.7 million in a funding round led by 8VC, a company founded by Mr Lonsdale. Other companies that invested in Terrahaptix include Valor Equity Partners, Lux Capital, SV Angel, Leblon Capital GmbH, Silent Ventures LLC, Nova Global, and angel investor Melya Malka.
Alex Moore, a non-executive director at Palantir and key figure at 8VC, joined Terrahaptix’s board of directors last year, the startup said in a statement on Monday.
Terrahaptix has its factory in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, where it builds drones, sentry towers, and unmanned ground vehicles to detect threats to infrastructure assets and immediately alert security outfits to the situation.
The startup had previously secured contracts worth over $12 million guarding infrastructure assets in Africa as of August 2025.
“Africa is industrialising faster than any other region, with new mines, refineries, and power plants emerging every month,” Bloomberg cited Mr Nwachuku as saying in a Monday report. “But none of that progress will matter if we don’t solve the continent’s greatest Achilles’ heel, which is insecurity and terrorism.”
Mr Nwachukwu said Terrahaptix’s mission is “to give Africa the technological edge needed for resource protection & counterterrorism.”
The new funding, the startup said, will be used to expand its operations across Africa. Terrahaptix said it provided security solutions to Nigeria’s hydropower facilities and Ghana’s gold and lithium mining factories.
“Today, Terra has millions of dollars in commercial and government contracts. With this funding, we will ramp up defense production across Africa and scale our data intelligence OS,” he added.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
World
Shabana Mahmood retained as home secretary as Burnham announces ministerial appointments
Mr Burnham pledged to deliver a new economic model and revive the country.
States
Flooding: Lagos LG urges responsible waste disposal practices
The chairman said that the intervention would help to enhance water flow and reduce the impact of flooding.
Economy
Power minister courts local, foreign investors to boost industrial growth
Mr Tegbe said reliable electricity remained central to Nigeria’s economic transformation.
Education
Senate extends investigation into safe schools initiative programme
The Senate also expanded the committee’s scope to include investigation of TETFund, NELFUND, and UBEC.
NationWide
NITDA advocates coordinated approach across MDAs to bolster cybersecurity
Mr Inuwa said that exposure to cyber threats in one government agency could expose others to cyber threats.
Economy
British PM Andy Burnham cuts tax on electricity
Effective October 1, Britons will be excused from paying VAT on electricity, and the cost will be taken from the cancelled £1.8 billion digital ID programme, Downing Street said.
