The Federal Government has taken steps to enhance security at the upcoming reopening of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos by installing closed-circuit television and solar lights as part of the repair efforts.
Minister for Works, David Umahi, disclosed this during an appearance on the Channels Television programme, Sunday Politics, on March 31, 2024.
Umahi revealed that as part of the repair work scheduled for the bridge, which is set to reopen in the coming days, CCTV cameras will be installed to address issues of crime and illegal mining in the vicinity of the bridge. He stated, “We are putting up CCTV both on top of the bridge and under the bridge because the president told me that part of the problem we are having is people who are doing illegal mining of the sand. And I agree with him. I have seen it. They even go as far as destroying the concrete to anchor their small boats.”
Two days prior, the Lagos State Government had announced that the Third Mainland Bridge would be fully reopened starting Thursday, April 4, 2024, following the completion of significant repair works.
In recent months, the bridge has undergone intermittent closures, ranging from days to weeks, to facilitate urgent repairs across various sections. These closures have necessitated motorists to use alternate routes during the repair periods.
The Third Mainland Bridge, Africa’s second-largest bridge, spans nearly 12 kilometers (7.5 miles), linking Lagos Island, the city’s business hub, with the mainland, where most residents reside. It was constructed in 1990 in Nigeria’s economic epicenter.
