David Umahi, Nigeria’s Minister of Works, has explained that the recent installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras on Lagos’ Third Mainland Bridge is aimed at curbing suicide attempts and preventing illegal sand excavation.
Umahi made this statement during his appearance on Politics Today, a program on Channels Television, on Friday. He had previously announced in February that the federal government had equipped the bridge with surveillance cameras to enhance security.
The minister noted that security personnel would monitor the CCTV feeds to enforce traffic rules, including speed limits, and identify any unusual activities, particularly those that may pose a threat to public safety.
Umahi also highlighted concerns regarding illegal sand excavation under the bridge.
“We’ve placed CCTVs beneath the bridge to monitor and detect any sand excavation activities within a 10-kilometre radius,” he said.
He also revealed that a security post has been set up along the Third Mainland Bridge, where personnel from the Navy, Police, Army, and local security agencies will be monitoring the CCTV feeds to ensure safety.
Umahi emphasized that these new measures would not only help prevent suicide attempts but also put an end to the illegal sand extraction beneath the bridge.
The minister also shared progress on the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project, expressing satisfaction with the ongoing work.
He noted that 30 kilometres of the road would be ready for inauguration by President Bola Tinubu on May 25.
