FG unveils N40bn CCTV control centre on Third Mainland Bridge

The Federal Government has inaugurated a N40 billion closed-circuit television (CCTV) control centre to enhance surveillance and safety on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State.

Speaking at the inauguration on Sunday, January 11, 2026, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, said the project was part of broader rehabilitation efforts undertaken on the bridge after the present administration assumed office in 2023.

Umahi explained that the CCTV initiative, unveiled in 2025, was introduced to improve security, discourage reckless driving, and prevent suicide attempts on the bridge.

Umahi said the control centre would allow security personnel to monitor activities on the bridge in real time and enforce speed limits.

The minister noted that the Third Mainland Bridge, alongside the Carter and Iddo bridges, was in a poor state when the administration came into office, necessitating extensive structural assessments and repairs both above and below water.

The minister stated that President Bola Tinubu approved the full rehabilitation of the bridge, including the replacement of expansion joints, adding that the completed works have significantly improved driving conditions and extended the lifespan of the structure.

He also disclosed that the project includes the provision of a surveillance boat and two Hilux vehicles, which will be handed over to the police to aid monitoring and emergency response.

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Also speaking at the event, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olufemi Dare, described the facility as the first CCTV control centre of its kind on any bridge in Nigeria.

Dare said the system enables continuous monitoring of activities on the bridge and the surrounding waterways.

He added that the project comprises 240 solar panels, 10 inverters, a 300kVA transformer, a standby generator, multiple monitoring screens, full air-conditioning, 1,268 solar-powered streetlights and a borehole facility.

Dare, who disclosed that the contract was awarded at a cost of N40.17 billion, with about N36 billion already paid to the contractor, said the inauguration represents the first phase of the project, with further commissioning expected after the completion of work on the bridge’s extension.

The Star