Assessment of Street Lighting on Urban Security System in Oyo State, Nigeria

This research investigates the impact of a streetlight initiative on the urban security dynamics of Oyo State, Nigeria, employing a descriptive research design. The study encompasses drivers and road users across Oyo State’s three senatorial districts, with a sample size of 400 selected from specific Senate districts. The findings reveal a substantial correlation (92.2%) between crime and areas lacking functional street lighting, a perception consistent in both Oyo and Ogbomosho, highlighting shared identifications of crime-prone locations. The average mean of 3.39 underscores a significant consensus among respondents regarding the severity of urban security challenges, including vandalism of street lights, robbery, house and store break-ins, theft, grievous hurt, wounding, murder, and rape. Respondents exhibit a predominant “Strong Agreement†(overall average mean of 3.45) regarding the positive impact of street lighting on security enhancement, particularly at night, facilitated by the involvement of police and Amotekun security patrols. Challenges identified in street lighting strategies for crime management within Oyo State encompass poor funding of the security sector, corruption, power failure, poor maintenance, vandalism of existing equipment by thugs, and inadequate maintenance of damaged cables and poles, all demonstrating statistical significance with p-values below 0.05. Proposed strategies to alleviate the current state of insecurity in the study area garner strong agreement from respondents, with a grand mean of 3.57. Key strategies include the installation of brighter street lights powered by solar or generators, ensuring uninterrupted street lighting systems, establishing police and rapid response to crime incidents, regularly maintaining and replacing malfunctioning street light bulbs, refurbishing security-conscious urban infrastructure, incorporating safety principles in urban planning, and intensifying crime and violence prevention campaigns to sensitize vulnerable groups. The study concludes that unevenly lit road sections in the urban state of Oyo pose risks for users, especially during nighttime driving. Recommendations include the installation of bright streetlights in all urban centers in Oyo State, utilizing solar power or generators. Furthermore, the study advocates for intensified crime and violence prevention campaigns by civil society and relevant authorities to enhance awareness among vulnerable populations in Oyo State.