The Nigerian House of Representatives has approved a motion calling on the federal government to create a formal national drone industrial policy. The motion also urges the establishment of designated defence industrial zones and the provision of structured capital support for local drone manufacturers.
This legislative initiative reflects increasing concern regarding the use of commercial drones by armed groups against Nigerian military forces.
The motion, debated on the floor of the House, acknowledged that insurgent groups and bandits are now deploying commercially available drones against Nigerian troops, a development that has fundamentally changed the nature of the security threat facing the country. Lawmakers argued that if armed non-state actors are already using drones as weapons, Nigeria cannot afford to depend on imported military technology to respond.
The legislators pointed to Nigeria’s existing engineering talent base, its status as Africa’s largest economy, and the presence of growing private-sector manufacturing companies as evidence that the country has the necessary talent and industrial capacity to build a viable drone manufacturing sector.
The motion argued, is state policy and capital to move the industry from a collection of entrepreneurial ventures into a recognised strategic national industry.
The House has highlighted the need for organised financial support directed toward Nigerian drone manufacturers, specifically through organisations such as the Bank of Industry and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria. They mentioned companies like Terra Industries and Proforce as key players to focus on. The aim is to help these companies grow and meet the standards required for military and government contracts, so they’re not relying solely on private investment.
Similar read: Nigerian army raises alarm as terrorists increase the use of armed drones in the northeast
Nigeria is not starting from zero. The Nigerian Air Force Institute of Technology developed the “Amebo” UAV as far back as 2018, demonstrating that the technical capability exists within the country’s military-industrial complex. What has been absent is the policy framework to build on that foundation systematically.
What the House is asking the government to do regarding drone manufacturing
The motion calls for several specific actions beyond funding. It urges the federal government to adopt a drone nationalisation policy that maps out a clear pathway from the current private-sector-led model to a state-supported strategic industry, with milestones, oversight structures, and accountability mechanisms built in.
On technology transfer, the House called on relevant agencies to identify and formalise agreements with reputable international drone manufacturers, structured around localisation of production and a progressive reduction of imported components over time. The logic is that Nigeria should be working toward manufacturing more of the drone’s constituent parts domestically rather than assembling imported components indefinitely.
The motion also calls for the creation of dedicated defence industrial zones for drone manufacturing, research, and maintenance, backed by fiscal incentives, infrastructure support, and a regulatory framework designed to attract both local and foreign investors into the sector.
The House Committee on Defence, Industry, Commerce, and Security has been mandated to undertake a legislative review to support the policy’s implementation.
Terra Industries has signed a joint venture agreement with DICON and raised $34 million from investors like 8VC and Lux Capital. The company welcomed the recent motion, seeing it as a sign that Nigeria has the engineering skills, growing support, and existing military relationships needed for a successful drone manufacturing industry.
Also read: Security crisis: Can Nigerian defence startups help combat terrorism?
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