Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Plunged into Darkness as Thieves Steal 168 Streetlights
Thieves Make Off with 168 Solar-Powered Streetlights
About 168 solar-powered streetlights have been stolen from the Longbridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, according to findings by PUNCH Metro. Residents had specifically pushed for the government to illuminate the stretch due to fears of kidnapping and robbery.
The streetlights were installed in 2025 along the roughly five-kilometre bridge to improve visibility and motorist safety at night. Authorities have confirmed the theft, but no arrests or replacement timeline has been announced.
A Pattern of Infrastructure Theft
The theft appears to have happened in stages rather than all at once. Some poles were found with only one of the two nuts typically used to secure them in place, suggesting vandals loosened the fittings on one visit before returning later to finish removing the pole entirely.
Business owners in the area said the removals mostly happen at night, with many only discovering fresh losses each morning from people arriving via the Longbridge direction, since most shops in the area close by 7pm. This pattern is similar to a previous case where vandals stripped streetlights, cables, iron rods, and copper wiring from sections of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway in October 2025.
Concerns Over Safety and Security
For residents and motorists, the loss has more significance than the cost of the infrastructure itself. Longbridge has previously been associated with attacks on stranded motorists, particularly at night, which is part of why residents had pushed for the lights to be installed in the first place.
One motorist described the theft as evidently well-planned, warning that the return of darkness could raise the risk of both accidents and criminal attacks along the route. A resident put it more bluntly, noting that if criminals could already operate in the area, removing the lights only makes it easier for them to do so unnoticed.
Replacement and Investigation Unclear
The Federal Controller of Works in Ogun State, Richard Adeleye, has since confirmed the theft. As of publication, no arrests have been announced in connection with the Longbridge thefts, and it remains unclear how soon the missing streetlights might be replaced.
The incident adds to a broader pattern of infrastructure theft along Lagos highways, raising concerns over the safety and security of motorists and residents. With the missing streetlights, the risk of accidents and criminal attacks is likely to increase, putting more pressure on authorities to investigate and replace the stolen infrastructure as soon as possible.
Source: Pulse.ng
