By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigerian defence technology startup, Terra Industries, is constructing a drone manufacturing facility in Accra, Ghana, as it continues its expansion.

The plant, designated Pax-2, will cover 34,000 square feet and serve as the company’s primary production base for drone and counter-drone systems in the region. The company has a mega-factory of a 15,000-square-foot Pax-1 plant located in Abuja.

The Ghana facility is expected to be operational by the end of June 2026 and will create 120 engineering jobs, running on a continuous production schedule. At full capacity, it is projected to manufacture 50,000 units annually across the company’s aerial systems portfolio.

The company said the expansion is part of a broader plan to scale manufacturing capacity across the continent. The need for security architectures has risen in recent years, as groups such as Islamic State and al-Qaeda are gaining ground in Africa, converging along a swathe of territory that stretches from Mali to Nigeria.

The startup produces long- and mid-range drones, autonomous sentry towers and unmanned ground vehicles to help secure infrastructure assets.

It will be looking at building a range of systems, including the Archer VTOL, a long-range surveillance and strike platform; the Iroko UAV, built for tactical deployment; and Kama, a counter-drone interceptor capable of speeds up to 300 kilometres per hour. The Kama system is designed for high-volume production to meet demand for kinetic drone interception.

Speaking on the latest development, Mr Nathan Nwachuku, co-founder and CEO of Terra Industries, said the only way Africa can have lasting peace is by uniting to build sovereign defence, not by relying on foreign security architecture, which instructed the choice of Ghana for the next phase of its expansion.

“We chose Ghana for Pax-2 because of its talent, strategic position, and political will to become a serious defence exporter,” he said.

In February, Terra extended its funding round to $34 million after securing an additional $22 million from investors, after an initial $11.75 million in January. Among its investors are 8VC, founded by the co-founder of Palantir Technologies Inc., Mr Joe Lonsdale, Lux Capital, with injections from the chief executive officer of Lagos-based unicorn Flutterwave, Mr Gbenga Agboola, as well as angel investors such as American actor Jared Leto and Jordan Nel, among others.

In the same month, the firm and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of a joint venture company (JVC) to boost the country’s defence industrial capacity and advance indigenous high-technology development.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The Lagos State government is looking to partner with Japan to unlock investment opportunities across the wastewater management value chain.

The Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO) recently engaged the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) survey team to advance a comprehensive model for wastewater infrastructure development in the metropolis, focusing on system integration, efficiency and long-term urban resilience.

The General Manager of LSWMO, Mr Adefemi Afolabi, informed his guests that Lagos, as a rapidly growing megacity with increasing pressure on its infrastructure, presents significant opportunities for investors to explore.

“Unlocking investment opportunities and improving service delivery across the State remains a top priority of the government. We have continued to create an enabling environment for private sector participation through the State Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) system.

“The Office of PPP provides a robust regulatory and institutional framework that supports investors, safeguards infrastructure assets, and ensures the protection of investments and returns on investment,” he stated.

Across the wastewater management value chain, the agency continues to explore innovative solutions, including brownfield and greenfield projects, to expand infrastructure capacity and create viable investment opportunities capable of boosting revenue generation for the State.

He expressed appreciation to JICA for its continued investment and technical support in the environmental sector, acknowledging that the support and intervention of development partners are essential to achieving long-term sustainability goals.

In his remarks, the JICA Team Lead, Mr Teketoshi Fujiyama, commended LSWMO for its systematic and policy-driven approach to wastewater management, describing it as a strong foundation for scalable infrastructure development.

He also acknowledged the detailed PPP model of the state, adding that such a framework will attract investors, ensure operational efficiency, and guarantee the long-term viability of wastewater projects in Lagos State.

While seeking deeper insights into the agency’s current operations, plans, and inter-agency coordination mechanisms, he noted that such engagements would help identify priority areas for technical support, capacity development and integrated infrastructure planning.

He disclosed that JICA is currently collaborating on water-related projects with the African Development Bank and other partners, including the EU Waterworks initiatives in select Nigerian communities.

“JICA is exploring modalities with relevant stakeholders to improve water supply and distribution networks across Lagos, while also considering the integration of wastewater management systems into broader urban water planning,” he added.

Mr. Fujiyama further emphasised the importance of embedding wastewater solutions into existing and future infrastructure projects, noting that sustainable urban development cannot be achieved without a holistic approach to water resource management.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to withdraw a recent directive issued by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), describing it as a dangerous attempt to impose censorship on the media.

NBC on Friday issued a strong warning to broadcasters over what it described as rising cases of unethical conduct among presenters and programme anchors, warning that violations of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code will attract sanctions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The commission said it had observed a disturbing decline in professionalism across news, current affairs and political programmes, with some presenters breaching standards of fairness, balance and neutrality.

According to NBC, there has been an increase in cases where anchors present personal opinions as facts, fail to provide equal opportunity for opposing views, and allow the broadcast of inflammatory or divisive content.

In a Sunday statement posted on its official X handle, SERAP called on President Tinubu to direct the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, and the NBC to reverse the notice.

According to the statement, Nigerian journalists, including presenters, are allowed to freely carry out their constitutional responsibilities and exercise their fundamental human rights.

“We’ve urged President Bola Tinubu to direct Mr Mohammed Idris Malagi, Minister of Information and National Orientation, and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately withdraw the unlawful ‘Formal Notice’ issued last week by the NBC, which threatens sanctions against broadcast stations and presenters on vague and unjustified grounds, including the expression of ‘personal opinions,’ alleged ‘bullying or intimidation’ of guests, and failure to ‘maintain neutrality.’

“We urged him to direct the Minister of Information and the NBC to immediately abstain from imposing prior censorship on broadcast stations and Nigerian journalists, including presenters, and to allow them to freely carry out their constitutional responsibilities and exercise their fundamental human rights,” the statement said.

It added, “The request followed the notice issued to broadcasters by the NBC on 17 April 2026, alleging a rise in breaches of the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code in ‘news, current affairs, and political programming’, and threatening that it would ‘enforce strict compliance and impose sanctions for Class B breaches.’

“The NBC’s notice represents a dangerous attempt to impose prior censorship on the media and suppress legitimate journalistic expression.”

SERAP emphasised that journalistic opinion is a protected form of expression, adding that the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights law protect broadcasters and presenters.

“The Nigerian Constitution and international human rights law protect both the absolute right to hold opinions and the qualified right to express ideas of all kinds. Journalistic opinion is a protected expression,” the statement concluded.