In a major move to boost security and save lives, Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has announced the installation of CCTV cameras on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.
Speaking during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, the minister revealed that the surveillance setup is meant to detect and prevent both suicide attempts and illegal sand mining under the bridge.
“We’ve installed CCTVs beneath the bridge deck. Anyone excavating sand within a 10-kilometre radius will now be spotted,” Umahi said.
“We’ve also built an observation facility by the waterfront where security operatives—including the police, navy, army, and local guards—can monitor live footage.”
According to him, this initiative aims to tackle the troubling cases of people attempting suicide by jumping off the bridge and to halt the illegal sand digging that could compromise the bridge’s structure.
He also addressed the temporary closure of the Independence Bridge, explaining that a structural fault with its approach slab made the closure necessary.
The original slab design, which used a cantilever method, eventually gave way after the sand supporting it was washed away.
Umahi assured Nigerians that corrective measures are underway and revealed more positive news: the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project is making great strides. “By May 25, 2025, Mr. President will commission a 30-kilometre stretch of the road from section one,” he proudly stated.
The minister emphasized that about 15 kilometers of the dual carriageway at the beginning section and another 5 kilometers toward the end near Eleko have been completed, paving the way for this milestone event.
Do you think the new CCTV setup will truly help prevent suicide and illegal activities on the bridge? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned to NIGPOST for updates on national infrastructure and development projects.
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