National Roads Authority Warns of Rising Theft of Street Lighting Along Two Major Highways

By Makutu Manneh

The National Roads Authority has raised alarm over a surge in thefts targeting street lighting cables along two of the country’s most heavily traveled roads, warning that the vandalism has left stretches of the Old Cape Road and the Serrekunda-Banjul Highway dangerously dark and is putting motorists and pedestrians at risk.

The authority said the repeated targeting of the road infrastructure has stripped several sections of both corridors of adequate illumination, heightening the likelihood of traffic accidents after dark and, officials cautioned, creating conditions favorable to criminal activity.

“Street lighting is a critical component of the country’s road infrastructure,” the authority said in a statement. “Any attempt to steal or damage this infrastructure undermines these objectives and places countless lives at risk.”

The agency said a number of individuals suspected of involvement in the thefts have been apprehended and are currently facing prosecution. It did not say how many suspects were in custody or provide details about the charges filed against them.

Calling the theft and destruction of public infrastructure a criminal offense under Gambian law, the authority said it has stepped up surveillance along the affected routes in coordination with national security agencies and warned that anyone caught vandalizing or stealing public property would face prosecution.

The authority appealed to the public to assist by reporting suspicious activity to the nearest police station or by calling its toll-free hotline at 1240.

The warnings come as Gambian authorities have grown increasingly concerned about the theft of public infrastructure, a problem that officials say strains limited maintenance resources and slows efforts to improve the country’s road network.

The National Roads Authority oversees the construction and upkeep of The Gambia’s road infrastructure. It said it remains committed to restoring and maintaining the lighting systems on the affected roads and urged citizens to treat public assets as shared national property.