FG Unveils Nigeria’s First Bridge CCTV Control Centre on Third Mainland Bridge

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 in strengthening surveillance, safety, and traffic management on one of Nigeria’s busiest transport corridors.

The inauguration follows an earlier announcement in 2025 by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, that surveillance cameras had been installed on the bridge to enhance security and prevent incidents such as suicide attempts.

At the time, Umahi said security personnel would monitor live footage from the CCTV system while also enforcing speed regulations on the bridge.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony on Sunday, the minister said the current administration inherited a severely deteriorated road infrastructure.

“When we came on board in 2023, we met a very terrible Third Mainland Bridge, Carter Bridge and Iddo Bridge, both on the pavement, surface, infrastructure above the water and even infrastructure below the water,” Umahi said.

He explained that President Bola Tinubu consequently directed a comprehensive re-evaluation and rehabilitation of the Third Mainland Bridge, including the replacement of its expansion joints.

“Lagosians were very happy with the president for that beautiful work, and that work completed and commissioned is still succeeding because of the quality,” he added.

Umahi commended China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the project contractor, for delivering what he described as high-quality work.

He also disclosed that the ministry would hand over a surveillance boat and two Hilux vans, which are part of the project contract, to the Nigeria Police Force to support monitoring activities on the bridge.

“If they need to incorporate other security agencies, they can do that, but the idea of this project is that we have a lay-by on the bridge, so we view everything going on on this bridge,” he said.

The minister expressed concern over excessive speeding on the bridge and urged motorists to strictly comply with traffic regulations.

Earlier, Olufemi Dare, Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, described the CCTV control centre as the first of its kind in Nigeria.

“I doubt if there is any bridge in Nigeria that has what we have deployed here today, where you have CCTV to monitor both the underwater and even the bridge itself,” Dare said.

He disclosed that the project includes a dedicated surveillance boat, two Hilux vans, 240 solar panels, multiple inverters, full air-conditioning systems, a 300 KVA transformer, standby generating plants, and advanced monitoring screens.

Dare added that the project also provides 1,268 solar-powered streetlights, a borehole facility, and extensive power infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted operations.

He thanked President Tinubu for approving the project and commended Umahi for ensuring transparency and due process throughout its execution.

According to him, the project was awarded at a cost of ₦40.17 billion, with ₦36 billion already paid to the contractor.

“This is the first level of commissioning. We are still going to come back here to do even for the extension of the bridge, which is about to be completed,” Dare said.

“We pray that sooner than later, we will return for a full-blown commissioning.”