Lagos State Loses N1.7bn Annually to Vandalism

The Lagos State Electricity Board (LSEB) has revealed that the state loses approximately N1.7 billion annually due to vandalism and theft of streetlight infrastructure and electrical installations.

The alarming figure was disclosed on Wednesday by the Public Lighting Representative of the board, Omotayo Halid, during a Stakeholders Town Hall Engagement for the Protection of Streetlight Infrastructure, held at Y Arena, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Halid highlighted the critical need to safeguard public lighting infrastructure, urging support from community stakeholders, including community development associations and committees, to curb the menace.

“Every year, the Lagos State Electricity Board alone loses N1.7 billion to theft and vandalism of electrical installations across the state. Imagine what could be achieved if this amount were invested in other sectors like education or healthcare,” Halid said.

He noted that the most common targets for vandals include transformers, underground cables, and generators. Halid explained that the damage caused by such activities often plunges entire roads into darkness, leading to accidents and straining healthcare services due to the associated risks.

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The Chairman of the LSEB, K.A.T. Balogun, stressed that protecting these infrastructures requires a joint effort between the government and the communities. “The streetlight infrastructures constructed by the state government are a shared responsibility. If we see anyone acting suspiciously around these installations, it is important to report to the authorities. The government has spent significant resources putting these in place,” Balogun said.

The town hall meeting brought together key stakeholders, including police officers, local vigilantes, representatives of community development committees (CDCs) and associations (CDAs), as well as transport unions. Discussions centered on strategies to safeguard electrical infrastructure and reduce vandalism.

CSP Ishola Olugboye, the Divisional Police Officer of Lion Building, Ikoyi, expressed concern about residents colluding with vandals and pledged to intensify policing efforts to address the issue. “We are committed to ensuring more effective policing and tackling the criminals responsible for this menace,” Olugboye assured.

The engagement reflects a renewed focus on protecting Lagos’s electrical infrastructure, with the goal of preserving public investments and ensuring safe, well-lit environments across the state.