The Federal Government on Sunday inaugurated a N40 billion Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Surveillance Centre on the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos, to enhance security and protect the critical infrastructure.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project was executed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
Speaking at the inauguration, the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, said the current administration inherited severely deteriorated conditions on the Third Mainland Bridge, Carter Bridge and Iddo Bridge when it assumed office in 2023.
“When we came on board in 2023, we met a very terrible Third Mainland Bridge, Carter Bridge and Iddo Bridge — from the pavement and surface to the infrastructure above and below the water,” Umahi said.
He explained that President Bola Tinubu subsequently directed a comprehensive re-evaluation and rehabilitation of the bridges, including replacement of expansion joints on the Third Mainland Bridge.
“Lagosians were very happy with the President for that beautiful work. The project that has been completed and commissioned is still succeeding because of its quality,” the minister added.
Umahi commended CCECC for delivering the project and disclosed that a surveillance boat and two Hilux vans provided under the contract would be handed over to the Nigeria Police for monitoring activities on the bridge, with room for collaboration with other security agencies.
He also expressed concern over excessive speeding on the bridge and urged motorists to obey traffic rules and regulations.
Earlier, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olufemi Dare, described the CCTV centre as the first of its kind on any bridge in Nigeria.
“I doubt if there is any bridge in Nigeria with this level of deployment, where CCTV monitors both underwater activities and the bridge itself,” Dare said.
He listed project components to include a surveillance boat, two Hilux vans, 240 solar panels, 10 inverters, a 300KVA transformer, standby generating plant, fully air-conditioned control rooms and multiple monitoring screens.
Dare added that the contract also covers 1,268 solar-powered streetlights and a borehole, noting that the total project cost stands at N40.17 billion, with N36 billion already paid to the contractor.
“This is the first phase of commissioning. We will return for a full commissioning once the extension of the bridge is completed,” he said.