Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, has disclosed the installation of new surveillance equipment on Lagos’ Third Mainland Bridge. The move is part of a wider plan to improve safety and prevent unlawful activities on one of the busiest bridges in the country.
During an interview on Politics Today, a programme aired on Channels Television, Umahi shared details about the project. He stated that several CCTV cameras have been placed under the bridge’s deck to monitor any suspicious or dangerous behavior, especially those linked to suicide attempts and illegal sand mining.
“We have put CCTVs down under the deck so that anybody who is excavating sand within the 10-kilometre radius will be spotted. We have built, beside the bank of the sea on Third Mainland Bridge, an examination house where we have the police, navy, army and local security,” the minister said.
He further explained that a joint security team, including members of the police, army, navy, and community guards, would be stationed at a new observation center near the bridge. They will monitor footage in real-time and take quick action if needed. “They will all be there watching the CCTV so that anybody who is trying to take his life on the Third Mainland Bridge, they will spot the person,” Umahi added.
In addition to this, Umahi also addressed the temporary shutdown of the Independence Bridge, which had raised questions among Lagos residents. He noted that a defect was discovered in the bridge’s approach slab. According to him, the slab was built using a cantilever method, which failed after sand beneath it washed away over time.
Moving on to national infrastructure efforts, Umahi shared updates on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. He noted that construction is moving at a steady pace, and that a major section of the highway will be ready for commissioning by May 25, 2025.
“The beginning of section one, as at today, about 15 kilometres by two carriageways on average has been achieved, and at the end of the project at Eleko where section one stopped, about 5 kilometres has been achieved,” Umahi said. “So, the idea is by the 25th of May, 30 kilometres continuously will be made available for Mr President to Commission from the beginning of section one down to kilometre 0 to 20.”
