Terra Industries Expands Defence-Tech Footprint into West Africa

Nigerian defence-tech startup Terra Industries is setting up a 34,000-square-foot drone factory in Accra, Ghana. This move comes after a year of significant growth for the company, which has already raised $34 million and operates a 15,000 km facility in Abuja, Nigeria.

The new plant, named Pax-2, is expected to launch in June and will expand Terra’s production capacity to include 50,000 drones by 2028. This would position the company as potentially the largest hardware manufacturer in Africa’s defence-tech sector.

Strategic Expansion for Defence Manufacturing

Terra has steadily integrated into Nigeria’s military operations and signed partnerships focused on local talent development. The Accra facility will employ approximately 120 engineers, further building Ghana’s defence-tech capabilities while creating a regional hub for expertise.

By operating in both Nigeria and Ghana, Terra could become central to West Africa’s emerging defence manufacturing capacity—facilitating the movement of skills, technology, and production across borders as governments seek to reduce reliance on imported systems.

Data Protection Policy Tightens in Kenya

Kenya’s transport sector is facing new data storage regulations aimed at preventing breaches. The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) now requires companies like matatu operators, railway firms, airlines, and ride-hailing apps to store customer data locally or ensure access within the country.

The policy mandates full accountability for how personal data moves through systems—from collection to storage, use, sharing, and deletion. Companies must register as either data controllers or processors and appoint dedicated officers to oversee compliance.

Failure to adhere to these rules could result in fines of up to KES 5 million ($38,700) or two years in jail—a significant step towards protecting sensitive customer information in a rapidly digitalizing economy.