An airport authority spokeswoman confirmed to the BBC that thieves stole the lighting system for one of Nigeria’s busiest runways just months after it was built.
Yakubu Funtua stated that an inquiry has been begun to “capture the culprits [and] retrieve what’s lost.”
It is unclear when the equipment was removed from Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
Yet, according to local media, airport staff were implicated in the crime.
The ground lights were erected in November, putting an end to years of limitations on landing on that side of the airport after nightfall.
Domestic carriers were forced to detour to the international portion and taxi about 4km (2.5 miles) back to the correct terminal, causing aircraft delays.
Mr Funtua told the BBC that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria will “block all loopholes to prevent [a] future occurrence”.
The criminals took advantage of the fact that the runway had been closed for months for maintenance to take the lighting system, an unnamed source told Nigeria’s Punch newspaper.
The source blamed a “syndicate” of workers at the airport along with “accomplices from outside” for a series of thefts.
