The Federal Government has inaugurated a ₦40 billion closed-circuit television (CCTV) control centre for the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, marking a major step toward improving safety and security on one of Africa’s busiest bridges.
Speaking at the inauguration on Sunday, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, said the project followed extensive rehabilitation works carried out on the bridge after the current administration assumed office in 2023.
Umahi explained that the CCTV system, first announced in 2025, was designed to curb dangerous driving, prevent suicide attempts, and strengthen overall security on the bridge. He said security personnel would monitor live footage from the control centre and enforce speed limits on the bridge.
“When we came on board in 2023, we met a very terrible Third Mainland Bridge,” the minister said, adding that the structure, alongside Carter and Iddo bridges, required comprehensive re-evaluation and repairs both above and below water level.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu approved the total rehabilitation of the bridge, including the replacement of expansion joints. He noted that the completed works have significantly improved driving conditions and extended the lifespan of the bridge.
Umahi further disclosed that the contract included a surveillance boat and two Hilux vans, which would be handed over to the police to support monitoring and rapid response.
“The idea is that we can see everything that is happening on the bridge,” he said, expressing concern over excessive speeding and urging motorists to comply with traffic regulations.
Also speaking, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olufemi Dare, described the facility as the first of its kind on any bridge in Nigeria. He said the system enables real-time monitoring of activities on the bridge and surrounding waters.
Dare revealed that the project includes 240 solar panels, 10 inverters, a 300 kVA transformer, a standby generator, multiple monitoring screens, and a fully air-conditioned control centre. He added that the contract also covers the installation of 1,268 solar-powered street lights and a borehole facility.
According to him, the project was awarded for ₦40.17 billion, with about ₦36 billion already paid to the contractor. He noted that the inauguration marked the first phase of the project, with further commissioning expected after the completion of work on the bridge’s extension.
