The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has disclosed that surveillance cameras have been deployed along the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos to strengthen security and deter suicide attempts.
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, revealed the development on Friday during a live programme, noting that the cameras are part of a wider strategy to combat security threats and deter suicide attempts.
He disclosed that security agencies, including the police, navy, and army, have been stationed at a newly established surveillance hub by the bridge to monitor footage and respond swiftly to emergencies.
“We now have a coordinated response system in place. The CCTV captures activities around and beneath the bridge, especially targeting unauthorised sand dredging, which poses structural risks,” Umahi explained.
He said this technology-driven approach is expected to stop the persistent digging around the bridge piles and ensure rapid intervention in suicide-related incidents.
In addition, Umahi addressed the recent closure of the Independence Bridge, attributing it to a failed structural slab. He explained that the slab collapsed due to flawed design and erosion, and that corrective works were necessary to guarantee public safety.
Commenting on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Umahi stated that progress on the project is on track, with a significant stretch scheduled for completion by late May. He said President Bola Tinubu is expected to commission a completed 30-kilometre segment of the highway on May 25, 2025.
