Vandals Turn Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Bridge Dark Again, 168 Lights Gone

Vandals Turn Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Bridge Dark Again, 168 Lights Gone
Motorists Fear Night Attacks
Some stretches of up to 300 metres were found without streetlights, while signs at some locations suggested that the poles had been forcibly removed

No fewer than 168 solar-powered streetlights installed along the Longbridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have been vandalised and stolen, raising fresh concerns over the safety of motorists using the busy route at night.

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Eko Hot Blog gathered that the streetlights were installed in 2025 along the approximately five-kilometre bridge to improve visibility and enhance the safety of motorists, particularly on a section of the expressway notorious for attacks on motorists whose vehicles break down.

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Findings during a visit to the bridge showed that several sections had been stripped of their lighting infrastructure, with about 168 streetlights removed between the OPIC end of the bridge and Wawa.

The suspected vandals appeared to have dismantled the installations systematically, loosening the screws and nuts securing the poles before removing and taking them away.

Some stretches of up to 300 metres were found without streetlights, while signs at some locations suggested that the poles had been forcibly removed.

Motorists and business owners expressed concern that the disappearance of the lights was gradually returning the Longbridge to darkness and could expose road users to increased risks of robbery, kidnapping and other criminal activities.

A motorist identified as Segun said the scale of the vandalism suggested that the perpetrators had carried out the operation systematically.

He said the return of darkness to the bridge was particularly worrying because motorists whose vehicles developed faults were already vulnerable to attacks.

A business owner at Wawa, Dade Aina, also lamented the removal of a streetlight close to an underpass, saying the area had remained dark since the light was taken away earlier this year.

Vandals Turn Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Bridge Dark Again, 168 Lights Gone — The vandalised sections of the bridge. Photo: Dayo Oyewo

She urged the authorities to increase security around the bridge, particularly at night, to discourage further vandalism and protect motorists.

Another business owner, Labake Aliu, suspected that most of the thefts were carried out at night, noting that business operators in the area often only discovered that another streetlight had disappeared when they resumed the following morning.

Motorists also questioned how the vandals were able to remove the infrastructure despite the presence of security personnel and called for increased surveillance along the bridge.

They urged the authorities to replace the stolen lights and intensify efforts to prevent scavengers and other vandals from targeting public infrastructure.

The Federal Controller of Works in Ogun State, Richard Adeleye, confirmed the vandalism and disclosed that some suspects had been arrested and charged to court.

According to him, the arrests were made before he assumed office as acting controller about a month ago, while the authorities were working on additional measures to prevent further theft.

“We have arrested the vandals and charged them to court. The police can confirm this. Meanwhile, we are putting strategy in place to stop the theft,” Adeleye said.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, also confirmed the arrest of suspected vandals operating along the axis.

He said the suspects were arrested while allegedly vandalising critical infrastructure and had been charged to court.

Babaseyi urged residents to report suspicious activities to the police, assuring that the command remained committed to protecting critical infrastructure.

The Longbridge vandalism comes amid growing concerns over the targeting of public infrastructure by scavengers and other vandals.

Recently, unidentified scavengers were accused of vandalising the concrete pillars of the bridge linking Alakija and Festac in Lagos State in an attempt to remove embedded iron rods.

The development has renewed calls for stronger surveillance and enforcement against the destruction of public infrastructure, particularly facilities designed to improve road safety.