Streetlight Sabotage Costs Lagos State ₦1.7 Billion Every Year

Streetlight Sabotage Costs Lagos State ₦1.7 Billion Every Year

The Lagos State Electricity Board (LSEB) has revealed that the state suffers an annual loss of approximately ₦1.7 billion due to the theft and vandalism of streetlight infrastructure and other electrical installations…READ MORE…

Speaking on Wednesday at a Stakeholders’ Town Hall Engagement for the Protection of Streetlight Infrastructure, held at Y Arena in Ikoyi, Lagos, Omotayo Halid, Public Lighting Representative for the board, emphasized the staggering financial toll.

Halid stated, “The Lagos State Electricity Board loses around ₦1.7 billion each year to vandalism and theft of electrical installations. Imagine if these funds were channeled into other critical areas like education or healthcare. Most vandalized items include transformers, underground cables, generators, and other electrical components.”

The theft of these installations not only leads to financial losses but also plunges entire roads into darkness, increasing the risk of accidents and creating additional strain on healthcare providers managing emergencies caused by poorly lit areas.

The LSEB called on community stakeholders, including development associations and committees, to collaborate in protecting the vital infrastructure. The Chairman of the board, K.A.T. Balogun, urged communities to take shared responsibility for safeguarding the state’s streetlight infrastructure.

Balogun remarked, “These streetlights are a joint responsibility between the government and the communities. If you see anyone acting suspiciously around these infrastructures, notify us immediately. The government has invested heavily in these projects, and we must protect them together.”

The meeting brought together representatives from the police, local vigilantes, community development associations (CDAs), community development committees (CDCs), transport unions, and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for protecting the infrastructure.

In his address, CSP Ishola Olugboye, Divisional Police Officer, Lion Building, Ikoyi, disclosed that some residents were colluding with vandals to carry out illegal activities. He pledged enhanced policing and community collaboration to curb the menace.

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