THE Federal Government has inaugurated a ₦40 billion closed-circuit television (CCTV) control centre for the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, aimed at enhancing security, curbing dangerous driving, and preventing suicide attempts.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, explained that the project follows extensive rehabilitation works on the bridge since the administration took office in 2023.
Security personnel will monitor live footage from the centre and enforce speed limits on the bridge.
Umahi noted that the bridge, along with Carter and Iddo bridges, required major repairs both above and below water level when the current government assumed office.
The rehabilitation, approved by President Bola Tinubu, included the replacement of expansion joints and has improved driving conditions while extending the bridge’s lifespan.
The project also features a surveillance boat and two Hilux vans to support police monitoring and rapid response.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olufemi Dare, added that the facility is the first of its kind on a Nigerian bridge.
The system allows real-time monitoring of the bridge and surrounding waters and includes 240 solar panels, 10 inverters, a 300 kVA transformer, a standby generator, multiple monitoring screens, and full air conditioning for the control centre.
The project also covers 1,268 solar-powered streetlights and a borehole facility.
The ₦40.17 billion contract has so far seen approximately ₦36 billion paid to the contractor, and this inauguration represents the first phase, with additional commissioning planned after completion of the bridge’s extension.