The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has disclosed that CCTV cameras have been strategically installed on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos as part of efforts to monitor and reduce suicide cases on the iconic structure.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Umahi explained that the surveillance cameras will also help prevent illegal activities such as sand excavation beneath the bridge deck.
“We have put CCTVs down under the deck so that anybody that 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,” Umahi said.
“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. With this CCTV, there will be no more excavation of sand under the deck around the pies.”
Independence Bridge Repairs Completed, Reopened to Traffic
Umahi also addressed the recent reopening of the Independence Bridge in Lagos, which had been temporarily shut down for emergency repairs due to a structural failure.
According to the minister, the failure occurred in the approach slab, which collapsed as a result of poor design.
“The initial construction of the approach slab was done as a cantilever, which was structurally inappropriate,” he explained.
He said the slab failed when sand beneath it leaked out, compromising the bridge’s stability and posing risks to commuters. The bridge has now been reopened following necessary reinforcement and safety measures.
30km of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway To Be Ready By May
In addition, Umahi shared progress updates on the much-anticipated Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a key infrastructure project under the current administration.
He revealed that 30 kilometres of the highway—Section One of the project—will be ready for commissioning by President Bola Tinubu on May 25, 2025.
“The beginning of section one, as at today, about 15 kilometres by two carriage way on the average has been achieved, and at the end of the project at Eleko where section one stopped, about 5 kilometres has been achieved,” he said.
“So, the idea is by 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.”