168 Solar Streetlights Stolen Along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Raising Security Concerns

At least 168 solar-powered streetlights installed along the Longbridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have reportedly been stolen by suspected vandals, leaving parts of the busy highway in darkness and raising fresh concerns about the safety of motorists.

The streetlights were installed in 2025 along the approximately five-kilometre stretch of the bridge to improve visibility and enhance security for motorists travelling through the area, particularly at night.

However, the infrastructure reportedly began disappearing only months after installation. Several sections of the bridge have now been stripped of their solar lighting systems, with an assessment from the OPIC end of Longbridge towards Wawa indicating that about 168 streetlights had been removed.

The vandalism appears to have been carried out systematically. At several locations, the screws and nuts securing the poles to the bridge had been loosened before the structures were dismantled and taken away. In other areas, there were indications that the poles had been forcibly removed.

While some streetlights were taken individually, other sections spanning as much as 300 metres were reportedly left without lighting infrastructure.

The development is particularly concerning because Longbridge carries heavy traffic every day, serving as a major route for motorists travelling between Lagos and other parts of the country.

The bridge has also developed a reputation for criminal attacks, with hoodlums reportedly targeting motorists whose vehicles break down, especially at night. The installation of solar-powered streetlights was therefore expected not only to improve visibility but also to make the area less attractive to criminals.

With many of the lights now gone, motorists and businesses around the area fear that the road is gradually returning to the dangerous conditions that existed before the lighting project.

A motorist identified as Segun expressed concern about the manner in which the streetlights were removed, suggesting that the vandalism was unlikely to have been carried out randomly.

“This is very sad. The theft was carefully carried out by a number of people because no one would remove a street light in 10 minutes. So, they must have taken their time to do it,” he said.

Segun warned that the growing darkness could make it more difficult for motorists to see approaching vehicles, pedestrians and people standing along the roadside.

He also called on the relevant authorities to intervene before the situation worsens, particularly given the bridge’s history of attacks on stranded motorists.

Business owners in the Wawa area have expressed similar concerns. Dade Aina, a business owner, said a streetlight positioned near an underpass connecting both sides of the area was also removed earlier in the year.

She said the removal had left the area particularly vulnerable at night, especially when motorists experience vehicle breakdowns.

The disappearance of the streetlights has therefore become more than an infrastructure issue. For road users who depend on the Longbridge every day, the return of darkness could increase concerns about visibility, roadside crime and the safety of stranded motorists.

The reported theft also raises questions about the protection and monitoring of public infrastructure. Without stronger surveillance and prompt replacement of the stolen lights, motorists fear that more sections of the expressway could become vulnerable to vandalism and criminal activity.

Authorities are expected to investigate the reported theft, strengthen security around the bridge and restore the damaged lighting infrastructure to ensure that the Longbridge does not once again become a major security concern for motorists travelling at night.