The Federal Government on Sunday commissioned the N40 billion Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Control Centre for the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the CCTV facility was constructed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
Speaking at the inauguration, the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, said the present administration inherited the Third Mainland Bridge in a severely deteriorated condition. He noted that upon assuming office in 2023, the government encountered serious structural challenges on the Third Mainland Bridge, as well as the Carter and Iddo bridges, affecting road surfaces, overhead infrastructure and underwater components.
Umahi explained that President Bola Tinubu consequently ordered a comprehensive reassessment and rehabilitation of the Third Mainland Bridge, including the replacement of its expansion joints. He said the successful completion of the project had been widely welcomed by Lagos residents, adding that the quality of the work continued to stand out.
The minister commended CCECC for delivering the project and disclosed that a patrol boat and two Hilux vehicles, provided under the contract, would be handed over to the police to aid surveillance of the bridge. He added that other security agencies could also be involved if necessary, stressing that the CCTV project was designed to enable full monitoring of activities along the bridge, including designated lay-bys.
Umahi also expressed concern over excessive speeding by motorists on the bridge and urged road users to comply with traffic regulations.
Earlier, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mr. Olufemi Dare, described the CCTV centre as the first of its kind in Nigeria.