Hoarded Light, Darkened Streets: Solar Streetlights Allocated to Better Life Street Hidden in Palace, Residents Demand Accountability

In what many residents describe as a shocking act of administrative sabotage, solar street lights officially allocated to Better Life Street remain unused and hidden in a palace, while the entire community continues to suffer in dangerous darkness.

A Chronicles Reporters investigation has uncovered a disturbing development involving the councillor representing the ward, Hon. Murtala, and the current Kutunku ward councilor within the Gwagwalada Area Council. Documents obtained by our newsroom confirm that the Area Council’s Head of Department (HOD) for Works issued a memo directing the removal of the solar street lights. In compliance, Councillor Murtala has allegedly begun removing solar installations, even though many were never installed to begin with.

Multiple eyewitnesses and local leaders within Better Life community expressed outrage, describing how the solar streetlights—purchased with taxpayer money and intended to improve community safety—were instead diverted and kept in the residence of a traditional ruler or political ally, with no public explanation.

“This is daylight theft,” a source who is a well known community elder. “They brought solar lights meant to brighten our streets, but they ended up in Aguma palace, unused, while our children walk home through pitch-black roads. We feel abandoned.”

Security risks have escalated in the area. Locals report increased incidents of petty theft, harassment, and fear of movement at night. For many, the lack of streetlights is not just a matter of comfort but of life and death.

Another youth in the area, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, added:
“Councillor Murtala was elected to serve us, not to serve a few elites. Why are solar lights being hoarded in Aguma Palace like personal property? Why is the council ordering their removal when they were never installed for the people? We deserve answers.”

The memo from the HOD Works, which we reviewed, fails to provide any justification for the removal or relocation of the solar lights. Even more alarming is the silence from Councillor Murtala himself, said he was instructed by the HOD works who sent him a memo, all calls and messages to reach the HOD works failed during the attempts by Chronicles Reporters to reach him.

Residents are now calling for an independent audit into the handling of the solar streetlight project, and for the Area Council to take immediate action to install the lights where they were originally meant to be placed—on the streets of Better Life, not in palaces or private homes.

Civil society groups in Gwagwalada have also begun to mobilize for a public protest if immediate steps are not taken to return and install the lights.

“This is not just about light. It is about transparency, equity, and justice,” said Ifeanyi Madaki, a youth leader and member of the Better Life Vigilante Forum. “You cannot promise development and deliver deception. The era of silence is over.”

As this story develops, Chronicles Reporters will continue to follow the trail—because the people deserve to know: who is stealing their light, and why?

For tips or additional information on this story, contact us at chroniclesreporters@gmail.com or send a confidential message to our newsroom.