168 Solar Streetlights Stolen on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Longbridge

No fewer than 168 solar-powered streetlights along the Longbridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have been stolen by suspected vandals, according to findings by PUNCH Metro.

The streetlights were installed in 2025 along the approximately five-kilometre-long bridge. They were meant to light up the busy road and make it safer for motorists at night.

But PUNCH Metro found that the lights started disappearing just months after they were put in place.

During a visit to the bridge on Tuesday, many sections were found stripped of their street-lighting infrastructure.

A count from the OPIC end of the bridge towards Wawa showed that about 168 solar-powered streetlights had been taken away.

The suspected vandals seemed to have carefully dismantled the lights. They loosened the screws and nuts that held the poles to the bridge before removing them.

Some areas showed that while some lights were removed at intervals, others were vandalised along stretches of up to 300 metres.

Some poles had also been forcibly taken down.

The Longbridge sees heavy traffic every day, with thousands of motorists using the route to get from Lagos to other parts of the country.

This bridge is known for attacks by hoodlums who target motorists with broken-down vehicles, especially at night.

The streetlights were expected to provide illumination and help reduce these incidents.

Motorists and business owners are worried that the increasing theft of the solar-powered streetlights is returning the busy route to darkness. This puts road users at greater risk.

A motorist, who identified himself as Segun, said the theft seemed to be done systematically.

He said, “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.”

Segun urged the authorities to act quickly, saying that the ongoing removal of the lights could lead to more criminal attacks on motorists.

A business owner at Wawa, Dade Aina, also complained about the removal of a street light near an underpass that connects both sides of the area.

She said, “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 people behind this, 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 there, how much more when there are no streetlights?

“If there is no light, it becomes easier for criminals to operate without being noticed.”

PUNCH Metro also observed that the vandalism might have happened gradually. Some poles had only one nut instead of the two needed to secure them.

This suggested that the vandals might have loosened one nut before coming back later to take the second one and then remove the poles.

Another business owner, Labake Aliu, said the theft is suspected to happen 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 seen at a makeshift post along the Longbridge heading towards Lagos.

Another motorist, who did not want to be named, said the disappearing lights are still a concern despite the presence of security personnel.

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.”

Motorists are calling for better surveillance around the bridge and the quick replacement of the stolen street lights.

They also want the authorities to take more steps to stop scavengers and other vandals from targeting public infrastructure on the expressway.

This situation has raised concerns about scavengers who reportedly go after 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 involved in the theft had been arrested and taken to court. He added that efforts are ongoing to prevent it from happening again.

“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 in the area were arrested.

He said the suspects were caught while allegedly vandalising critical infrastructure and have since been charged to court.

Babaseyi said the command is focused on protecting important infrastructure in the state. He urged residents to report any 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.