Darkness hits Lagos-Ibadan Longbridge as more streetlights disappear

Darkness has returned to the Longbridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as more solar-powered streetlights installed along the bridge have disappeared, PUNCH Metro has observed.

The development comes weeks after PUNCH Metro reported that no fewer than 168 solar-powered streetlights had been removed from the approximately five-kilometre bridge by suspected vandals.

A follow-up visit to the bridge on Monday showed that some of the streetlights that remained during the previous count had also been removed, leaving only a handful of the installations standing along the route.

The Longbridge stretches from the Warewa end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to the OPIC/Kara end of the highway.

During the previous visit, PUNCH Metro observed that the streetlights had begun disappearing gradually only months after they were installed in 2025, with several sections stripped of their lighting infrastructure.

A count of the vandalised points from the OPIC end towards Warewa showed that about 168 solar-powered streetlights had been removed.

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

Some sections had individual lights removed at intervals, while others had stretches of up to 300 metres stripped of the installations. Some locations also showed signs that the poles had been forcibly removed.

However, Monday’s visit showed that the vandalism had continued, with only about 20 streetlights still standing roughly three kilometres into the bridge and a few others remaining at both ends.

The bridge is surrounded by host communities, including Arepo, Warewa, Banku, Mokore, Arigbede and Magboro.

A resident, Aminat Adio, told PUNCH Metro that the vandalism had continued despite concerns raised over the removal of the streetlights.

“Nothing has changed since the first day they started to remove them. And that is why you no longer see many streetlights on the bridge,” she said.

Adio said the identity of the vandals remained unknown to residents but urged the authorities to investigate the continued removal of the infrastructure.

Another resident, Bolu Adeogun, said the vandals appeared to take advantage of the relative absence of pedestrians on the highway.

“They have continued to steal the streetlights because it is a highway where pedestrians could hardly be found. You will notice that the ones at both ends were not tampered with. That is because they are close to where there is frequent movement of people,” he said.

At night, most sections of the bridge are now plunged into darkness.

The Longbridge has previously been identified as a security concern, with reports of hoodlums attacking motorists whose vehicles break down on the bridge, particularly at night.

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A resident who identified himself simply as Moses expressed concern that the return of darkness could worsen the security situation.

“Before the installations, there had been cases of robbery, kidnapping and attacks on motorists, especially those whose vehicles broke down. Now, that may likely return if something is not done,” he said.

Following the earlier report, PUNCH Metro observed the presence of police operatives at a makeshift post provided for them on the bridge.

The Federal Controller of Works in Ogun State, Michael Komolafe, had told PUNCH Metro during the previous report that some suspected vandals had been arrested before he assumed office.

When contacted on Monday, Komolafe said he was unaware that more streetlights had been removed but expressed concern over the development.

He said he had previously met with police officers at the location and that the Divisional Police Officer had assured him that officers regularly patrolled the bridge.

According to him, however, the DPO later informed him that a police vehicle deployed for patrol had been involved in a crash, leaving one of the officers hospitalised.

Komolafe said the incident might have affected police presence on the bridge and provided an opportunity for vandals to continue their activities.

He said, “The last time, I met with the police where they were, and the DPO even assured us that their men were always on patrol here. So, I wasn’t expecting anything like that to happen.

“I called him, and he told me that their vehicle was rammed and damaged, and one of the men who was in the vehicle had been in the hospital for two days. They had just discharged him.

“I think that’s the reason they have not gone there, and they found out that the vandals are taking advantage of the situation, which is not good at all.”

On the vandalism of the streetlights and other infrastructure, Komolafe expressed concern over the extent of the damage, saying the perpetrators appeared to be becoming increasingly emboldened.

He said no immediate plan had been confirmed to replace the vandalised streetlights.

“Efforts towards replacement are not there yet. I can’t say that yet. I have informed the headquarters anyway, but as for directives, I can’t say,” Komolafe said.

He, however, stressed that any replacement programme would need to be accompanied by measures to prevent renewed vandalism.

“Even if there will be efforts to replace them, they must clearly speak on how to ensure that, even if you replace them, they will not be vandalised again.

“I think the first thing is to know how to ensure that vandalism is stopped. Otherwise, it’s just as if we are working for the vandals,” he added.