Nigeria has signed a new $190 million defence technology deal with UK-based firm MARSS, adding to a wave of agreements reached during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to London last week.
The agreement, signed on March 19, will see the Nigerian Ministry of Defence partner with MARSS and local firms to build what officials describe as Nigeria’s first fully integrated AI-powered national defence architecture.
At the centre of the new programme is MARSS’ NiDAR system — an artificial intelligence-driven command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) platform designed to integrate surveillance and response across air, land and sea.
The deal is separate from the widely reported $990 million package signed during Bola Tinubu’s UK visit for the reconstruction of two of Nigeria’s major ports. That contract has sparked controversy after details showed it was awarded to the Chagoury Group, a firm linked to a key ally of the president, with a significant portion of the supply contracts flowing back to UK companies.
National “defence shield”
The multi-year defence project will establish a central command structure linking drones, ground systems and regional command centres into a single operational network.
According to the company, the system will enable Nigerian security agencies to monitor threats in real time and coordinate responses more effectively, particularly in areas where deploying personnel is risky.
“This programme will see MARSS working with its local partners to build sovereign capability, create a critical multi-domain defence architecture, and support the national security agencies in counter-terrorism operations,” the company said.
The package includes unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), mobile surveillance platforms and a national command centre, alongside training and long-term support for Nigerian operators.
AI and counter-terrorism push
The deal comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with increased insurgency and banditry, with insecurity stretching across the northeast, northwest and parts of the Middle Belt.
The NiDAR system is designed to allow operators to deploy unmanned assets autonomously, turning drones and other platforms into intelligent sensors capable of detecting and tracking threats across multiple environments.
Rob Balloch, Chief Growth Officer at MARSS, said the integration of these systems would provide “a multi-dimensional layered defence capability that is both scalable and future-proofed in the fight against terrorism.”
The agreement also includes the creation of a training centre aimed at building local capacity and reducing reliance on foreign technical support over time.
The deal underscores strengthening defence ties between Nigeria and the UK, particularly in the area of advanced military technology.
UK defence minister Lord Coaker said the agreement reflects a “continued and strengthening partnership,” noting that British firms are playing a growing role in supporting Nigeria’s security operations.
The deployment would mark one of the first large-scale uses of AI-enabled C4I systems in Africa, signalling a shift toward more technology-driven approaches to national security.
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