Nigeria’s Poor Road Lighting: The Silent Killer on Our Highways

For many Nigerian drivers, nighttime driving is an unavoidable reality. Yet, what should be a routine journey often turns into a gamble with death due to poor or non-existent road lighting across the country.

Also Read: Why Do So Many Car Accidents Happen at Night?

From expressways linking major cities to community roads within urban centers, the absence of functional streetlights has become a silent but deadly menace on our highways.

A Nation Driving in the Dark

Roads like the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, Abuja–Lokoja Highway, and Benin–Ore Road, which carry thousands of vehicles daily, often leave drivers navigating in complete darkness once the sun sets.

Faulty or vandalized streetlights, combined with little or no maintenance, have left critical highways shrouded in danger. This increases the risks of head-on collisions, pedestrian fatalities, and armed robbery attacks at night.

Deadly Consequences

According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), over 40% of road crashes in Nigeria occur at night, with poor visibility listed as a major contributing factor. In many tragic cases, drivers misjudge distances, fail to notice broken-down vehicles parked without hazard lights, or collide with unsuspecting pedestrians trying to cross the road.

A 2024 report by the World Health Organization (WHO) also highlighted that countries with poor road lighting infrastructure record significantly higher rates of nighttime fatalities compared to those with proper illumination. Nigeria, sadly, fits into the former category.

The Burden on Road Users

Commercial drivers, truck operators, and private motorists have all raised concerns. Many are forced to install high-powered, blinding headlights just to see a few meters ahead, inadvertently putting oncoming vehicles at risk of temporary blindness. Motorcyclists (Okada riders) are not spared either—most operate without proper lighting, making them invisible hazards on poorly lit roads.

Government’s Role and Neglect

Despite billions allocated to road maintenance and urban infrastructure annually, the reality on Nigerian roads tells a different story. Many road lighting projects are either abandoned midway, poorly executed, or left without routine maintenance. In Abuja, for example, newly installed streetlights along key expressways often stop functioning within months, leaving the roads once again in darkness.

What Needs to Change

Experts recommend a multi-layered approach:

• Proper Funding & Monitoring: Ensure funds allocated to road lighting are fully utilized.
• Public-Private Partnerships: Allow private companies to install and maintain lights in exchange for tax breaks.
• Community Vigilance: Prevent vandalism of poles and solar panels through neighborhood watch systems.
• Use of Solar Technology: Reduce dependence on unstable electricity by adopting solar-powered street lighting.

A Call for Action

The absence of functional streetlights in Nigeria is not just an inconvenience, it is a matter of life and death. Every unlit road is a potential death trap, every broken streetlight a missed chance to save a life. Until road lighting becomes a priority, Nigerians will continue to risk their lives navigating highways in the dark.