At least 168 solar-powered streetlights installed along the Longbridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have been stolen by suspected vandals.
The streetlights, which were installed in 2025 along the five-kilometre-long bridge, were intended to illuminate the busy stretch and enhance safety for motorists, especially at night. However, it was observed that the lights began disappearing only a few months after installation.
During a visit to the bridge on Tuesday, several areas were found to have been stripped of their street-lighting infrastructure. A count of the affected locations, from the OPIC end towards Wawa, revealed that approximately 168 solar-powered streetlights had been removed.
The vandals reportedly dismantled the lights with care, loosening the screws and nuts securing the poles before removing and carting them away. In some sections, lights were removed at intervals, while in others, stretches of up to 300 metres were left without illumination. Evidence at some points showed that poles had been forcibly detached.
The Longbridge is a major route for thousands of motorists travelling between Lagos and other parts of the country and is notorious for attacks by hoodlums, especially at night when vehicles break down. The installation of streetlights was expected to help curb such incidents by improving visibility and security.
However, motorists and business owners expressed concern that the gradual disappearance of the lights was plunging the route back into darkness and increasing the risks faced by road users.
A motorist, identified simply as Segun, said the thefts appeared to be systematic. “This is very sad. The theft was carefully carried out by several people; no one can remove a streetlight in ten minutes. They must have taken their time. Now, the area is gradually returning to its former state. Darkness makes it difficult to see, especially at night. You can’t easily spot what’s ahead or identify people by the roadside. It’s frightening because this bridge is already known for attacks on broken-down vehicles.”
Segun called on the authorities to take swift action, warning that continued theft of the streetlights could further endanger motorists.
A business owner in Wawa, Dade Aina, also lamented the removal of a streetlight near an underpass connecting both sides of the area. “There used to be a streetlight just by the underpass, but it was removed earlier this year. Since then, the place has been left in darkness. We don’t know who the perpetrators are, but the situation is worrying. When a vehicle breaks down here at night, the driver is already vulnerable. You know Longbridge is very dangerous. If criminals can attack or kidnap people here, imagine how much easier it is without streetlights. If there’s no light, criminals can operate unnoticed.”
Further investigation by PUNCH Metro indicated that the vandalism may have been gradual, as some poles were found with only one nut remaining, suggesting that vandals may have loosened one nut on an earlier occasion before returning to complete the theft.
Another business owner, Labake Aliu, said the theft was suspected to have taken place mostly at night.
She said, “No one knows exactly when they remove them, but we suspect it is mostly done at night. Most of us close our shops by 7pm, and by the time we resume in the morning, people coming from the Longbridge direction are the ones who inform us about the latest removal.
There is no way we can know because this is an expressway. But it is most likely done at night.
Some police officers were previously seen occupying a makeshift post along the Longbridge inward Lagos.
Another motorist, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the disappearance of the lights remained a concern despite the presence of security personnel in the area.
He said, “The lights were installed for a reason. There used to be police officers patrolling the bridge, and some were also seen sitting at the makeshift post along the bridge.
But it is surprising that despite their presence, the solar lights are still going missing. This is not just about the darkness; it can also increase the risk of accidents and criminal attacks.
The authorities need to find out who is behind this and stop them before all the lights disappear.
The motorists called for increased surveillance around the bridge and the prompt replacement of the stolen street lights.
They also urged the relevant authorities to intensify efforts to curb the activities of scavengers and other vandals targeting public infrastructure along the expressway.
The development has raised concerns about the activities of scavengers who reportedly target public infrastructure for recyclable materials and scrap.
When contacted on Wednesday, the Federal Controller of Works in Ogun State, Richard Adeleye, confirmed the theft.
He said some vandals responsible for the act had been arrested and charged to court, adding that efforts were ongoing to forestall recurrence.
We have arrested the vandals and charged them to court. The police can confirm this. I just resumed office as the acting controller a month ago, and the arrests were made before I resumed. Meanwhile, we are putting strategy in place to stop the theft.
Similarly, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed to PUNCH Metro on Wednesday that suspected vandals operating along the axis were arrested.
He said the suspects were arrested while allegedly vandalising critical infrastructure and had subsequently been charged to court to face the full weight of the law.
Babaseyi said the command remained committed to protecting critical infrastructure across the state, urging residents to promptly report suspicious activities to the police.
We have arrested suspected vandals in the act within that axis and charged them to court to face the full weight of the law. The command remains resolute in protecting critical infrastructure and urges residents to promptly report suspicious activities. See something, say something. Stay safe,” he said.The development comes amid a recent incident in which unidentified scavengers allegedly vandalised the pillars supporting the bridge linking Alakija and FESTAC in Lagos State by breaking the concrete structures to remove embedded iron rods.
The spokesperson for the State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Babatunde Akinbiyi, said efforts were ongoing to sensitise the public about vandalism and apprehend perpetrators.
He said, “It is not new; it is a recurring thing. It is being carried out by vandals. You can’t allow your selfishness to affect the generality of the people.
We are doing what we can in terms of sensitisation so that we can reach their minds. And those who are caught in the process will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
Because you cannot allow your own greed and obsession to affect the lives and safety of other people.
— PUNCH Metro
