In a significant move to bolster infrastructure security in Lagos, the Federal Government has officially commissioned a state-of-the-art Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) monitoring centre for the Third Mainland Bridge. The project, inaugurated by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, on January 12, 2026, represents a core part of President Bola Tinubu's directive to rehabilitate and secure critical bridges nationwide.
A Technological Shield for a Critical Artery
Minister Umahi revealed that upon the administration's assumption of office in 2023, key Lagos bridges including the Third Mainland Bridge, Carter Bridge, and Iddo Bridge were found in a deplorable state. These structures suffered from severe defects on pavement surfaces, expansion joints, and other critical elements both above and below the waterline.
The newly commissioned facility is designed as a comprehensive safety upgrade. It features an array of high-definition CCTV cameras providing coverage of the entire bridge deck and its underwater sections. To support monitoring and rapid response, the centre is equipped with a dedicated surveillance boat and two operational Hilux vehicles.
Real-Time Monitoring and Rapid Response
The primary objective of the CCTV-based system is multifaceted: to control speeding, prevent traffic obstructions, curb incidents of vehicle fires, and deter suicide attempts on the bridge. The system enables real-time monitoring, with strategically placed lay-bys on the bridge allowing law enforcement to intervene without causing major traffic disruptions.
Under the operational framework, the Nigeria Police Force will be responsible for setting and enforcing speed limits. They will be supported by the newly installed surveillance infrastructure, patrol vehicles, and the boat officially handed over for the operation.
At the commissioning event, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olufemi Dare, emphasized the technological leap. He stated that the project introduces advanced technology for the real-time monitoring of both the bridge's superstructure and its underwater components. This integration is expected to significantly enhance safety, security, and the speed of emergency response. Dare confirmed that the system is designed to enable rescue and response operations within two to three minutes of any incident.
Project Cost and a Firm 'No' to Tolling
The Federal Controller disclosed the financial details of the project, noting that the total contract sum stands at N43,118,028,778. Out of this amount, N36,295,371,137 has already been disbursed to the contractor.
In a related development, the Federal Government has categorically ruled out any plan to introduce tolls on the rehabilitated Third Mainland Bridge. Minister Umahi, speaking after inaugurating the N40 billion CCTV centre, provided two key reasons for this decision. Firstly, he stated that constructing toll plazas would entail a static load on the bridge structure. Secondly, he noted that tolling within the city centre would introduce significant traffic bottlenecks. "That is why we are not tolling this bridge," he affirmed.
He reiterated that security operations on the 11-kilometre bridge would be managed by the police, with a targeted emergency response time of just five minutes once the system is fully operational.
