About 168 solar-powered streetlights installed along the Longbridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have been vandalised and removed by suspected thieves.
The lights, which were installed in 2025 across the approximately five-kilometre bridge, were designed to improve visibility and safety for motorists using the busy route, especially at night.
However, reports showed that many of the installations have disappeared months after they were put in place.
During a visit to the bridge on Tuesday, several portions of the lighting system were found to have been dismantled. A count of affected locations from the OPIC end towards Wawa showed that roughly 168 solar streetlights were no longer in place.
The suspected vandals appeared to have removed the fittings gradually, with some poles showing evidence that their nuts and screws had been loosened before the structures were eventually taken away.
In some areas, individual lights were missing, while other affected stretches extended for hundreds of metres. Some poles also appeared to have been pulled out by force.
The development has raised fresh safety concerns because the Longbridge is heavily used by motorists travelling between Lagos and other parts of the country. The route has also been associated with attacks on motorists, particularly those whose vehicles develop faults at night.
With fewer streetlights now functioning, motorists and businesses around the area fear that the return of darkness could make the bridge more attractive to criminals.
One motorist, Segun, said the removal appeared to have been organised rather than spontaneous.
“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.
“Now, the removal is gradually turning the place back to its former state. Darkness makes it difficult to see properly, especially when you are driving at night. You cannot easily see what is ahead of you or identify people standing by the roadside.
“It is frightening because this bridge is already known for attacks on motorists whose vehicles develop faults.”
He appealed to the authorities to replace the missing lights and strengthen security around the bridge.
A trader in the Wawa area, Dade Aina, also spoke about the removal of a streetlight close to an underpass.
“There used to be a street light just by the underpass, but it was also removed early this year. Since then, the place has been left dark.
“We don’t know the perpetrators, but the situation is becoming 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 there, how much more when there are no streetlights?
“If there is no light, it becomes easier for criminals to operate without being noticed.”
Another business owner, Labake Aliu, said the timing of the thefts suggested that the vandals might be operating after dark.
“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.”
A motorist who requested anonymity questioned how the vandalism continued despite the presence of security personnel in the area.
“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 stronger surveillance, replacement of the stolen facilities and tougher measures against people involved in vandalising public infrastructure.
When contacted, the Federal Controller of Works in Ogun State, Richard Adeleye, confirmed the theft and disclosed that some suspects had already been arrested and taken to court.
“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.”
The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, also confirmed the arrest of suspected vandals along the axis.
“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 Longbridge vandalism comes amid wider concerns over the destruction of public infrastructure by suspected scavengers.
Recently, unidentified individuals were also accused of damaging the pillars of the Alakija-FESTAC bridge in Lagos while allegedly attempting to remove iron rods embedded in the concrete.
The spokesperson for the State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Babatunde Akinbiyi, said authorities were working to educate the public about the consequences of vandalism and apprehend those involved.
“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.”
