Solar streetlights stolen on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Longbridge

Suspected vandals have stolen at least 168 solar-powered streetlights from the Longbridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The lights, which were installed in 2025 along the approximately five-kilometre bridge, were intended to improve nighttime safety for the thousands of motorists who use the route daily.

Reports indicate the theft has been systematic, with lights disappearing gradually only months after installation. Vandalism was observed from the OPIC end of the bridge toward Wawa, with some sections stripped of infrastructure over stretches of up to 300 metres. The perpetrators appeared to have carefully dismantled the equipment by loosening screws and nuts to remove the poles.

The loss of illumination has raised significant security concerns. The Longbridge is already known for hoodlum attacks targeting motorists whose vehicles break down at night. Local motorists and business owners expressed concern that the theft is returning the busy expressway to darkness, increasing the risk of crime and accidents.