Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Longbridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a critical artery connecting Nigeria's commercial capital to the rest of the country, is slowly being plunged back into darkness. No fewer than 168 solar-powered streetlights, installed in 2025 along the approximately five-kilometre stretch of the bridge, have been stolen by suspected vandals, findings by PUNCH Metro have revealed. The gradual disappearance of these lights has not only eroded the gains of a major infrastructure investment but has also rekindled fears among motorists and residents about the safety of one of the nation's most dangerous highways.
The theft, which appears to have been carried out methodically over time, was uncovered during a visit to the bridge on Tuesday. A count from the OPIC end of the bridge towards Wawa showed that about 168 solar-powered streetlights had been carefully dismantled and removed. The suspected vandals loosened the nuts and bolts securing the poles to the bridge before carting them away. In some areas, stretches of up to 300 metres had been completely stripped of lighting infrastructure, while other sections showed signs of forceful removal or multiple visits, with some poles found with only one nut remaining instead of the two used to secure them.
The Longbridge carries heavy vehicular traffic daily and serves as a major link between Lagos and other parts of the country. However, it has also earned a notorious reputation for attacks on motorists, particularly those whose vehicles break down on the bridge at night. The installation of the solar streetlights in 2025 was therefore a welcome intervention, expected to provide illumination and help reduce such incidents. But with the lights now disappearing piecemeal, the route is returning to its former dark and perilous state, exposing road users to greater risks of criminal attacks and accidents.
Motorists have expressed deep concern over the development. One motorist, who identified himself simply as Segun, described the theft as systematic and deeply worrying. "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. He warned that the return of darkness to the bridge would make it difficult for drivers to see properly at night, making it impossible to identify obstacles or suspicious persons standing by the roadside. "It is frightening because this bridge is already known for attacks on motorists whose vehicles develop faults," he added.
Business owners operating around the bridge have also raised the alarm. Dade Aina, a business owner at Wawa, lamented the removal of a street light near an underpass, noting that the area had been left dark since the light was taken away early in the year. She expressed fear that motorists whose vehicles break down at night could become easy targets for criminals. Another trader, Labake Aliu, said the thefts were believed to occur mostly at night, with traders often only discovering new cases of removal the following morning. The absence of streetlights, she noted, creates an environment where criminals can operate without being noticed.
The Federal Controller of Works in Ogun State, Richard Adeleye, confirmed the theft and disclosed that some suspected vandals had been arrested and prosecuted. Adeleye said the arrests were made before he assumed office as acting controller about a month ago. He also stated that the ministry was developing measures to prevent further theft of the infrastructure. The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, also confirmed the arrest of suspected vandals operating along the axis, saying the suspects were apprehended while allegedly vandalising critical infrastructure and had been charged to court.
The incident is part of a growing and troubling trend of infrastructure vandalism in the Lagos-Ogun corridor. In a similar incident, suspected scavengers recently damaged sections of the bridge linking Alakija and FESTAC in Lagos while attempting to remove iron rods embedded in its concrete structure. These acts of vandalism, often driven by the lucrative scrap metal trade, not only destroy public assets but also jeopardise the safety of road users.
For motorists plying the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the theft of the solar streetlights is more than just a loss of public property; it is a direct threat to their safety. The Longbridge, once a symbol of progress and improved security, is gradually reverting to a dangerous stretch of road where darkness and crime thrive. As authorities work to restore the lights and prevent further theft, the question remains: how many more public assets must be stolen before decisive action is taken to protect Nigeria's critical infrastructure?
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