Thieves have stolen the lighting system for one of the runways at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

A spokesperson of the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Abdullahi Yakubu-Funtua made the disclosure in a report by the BBC.

He said an investigation has now been launched to arrest the criminals and recover the missing runway lights.

The FAAN official noted that it is not clear when the system was stolen but there is a likelihood that airport workers conspired with the thieves to carry out the theft.

The ground lights were installed last November, which ended years of after-dusk restrictions on landing on that wing of the airport.

Domestic carriers were forced to divert to the international section and taxi

about 4km (2.5 miles) back to the right terminal, which caused flight disruptions.