VANDALISM LEAVES LAGOS-IBADAN LONGBRIDGE LARGELY WITHOUT STREETLIGHTS

Darkness has returned to the Longbridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as suspected vandals continue to remove solar-powered streetlights installed along the major highway. A recent inspection of the approximately five-kilometre bridge showed that only a small number of the lights remained, with about 20 installations still standing roughly three kilometres from the OPIC end and a few others surviving near both ends of the bridge.

The latest development follows an earlier report that about 168 solar-powered streetlights had already been removed from the bridge. The lights were installed in 2025 but began disappearing only months later, with vandals reportedly dismantling the poles by loosening the screws and nuts holding them in place before taking them away. In some portions of the bridge, individual lights were removed at intervals, while other sections of up to 300 metres were left without lighting.

Residents of communities around the Longbridge, including Arepo, Warewa, Banku, Mokore, Arigbede and Magboro, expressed concern over the continued destruction of the infrastructure. One resident, Aminat Adio, said nothing had changed since the removal began and called on the authorities to investigate. Another resident, Bolu Adeogun, said the attackers appeared to exploit the limited presence of pedestrians on the highway, noting that streetlights near the ends of the bridge were less affected because of greater human activity.

The return of darkness has also raised security concerns because the Longbridge has previously been associated with attacks on motorists, particularly those whose vehicles break down at night. A resident identified as Moses recalled reports of robbery, kidnapping and other attacks before the streetlights were installed and warned that the situation could deteriorate if the lighting infrastructure is not restored. Following earlier reports of vandalism, police operatives had been observed at a makeshift post on the bridge.

The Federal Controller of Works in Ogun State, Michael Komolafe, said he was unaware that additional streetlights had been removed but expressed concern about the development. He said police patrols had been affected after a patrol vehicle was involved in an accident, leaving one officer hospitalised, which may have created an opportunity for further vandalism. Komolafe said there was currently no confirmed plan for immediate replacement of the damaged lights, adding that any replacement effort should be accompanied by measures to prevent the infrastructure from being vandalised again.