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Third Mainland Bridge Under Watch: FG Installs Cameras to Tackle Sand Theft, Suicide Attempts

Published

2 weeks ago

Apr 5, 2025.

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, recently explained the reasons for installing CCTV cameras on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Umahi revealed that the installation of the cameras was primarily aimed at preventing suicide attempts and stopping illegal activities, especially sand excavation, under the bridge.

Umahi emphasized that the CCTV cameras would be monitored by security personnel to detect individuals attempting to commit suicide and to enforce traffic rules, including speed limits, on the bridge.

This initiative is seen as a proactive measure to ensure the safety and security of commuters, while also improving law enforcement in the area.

The cameras will also help address the illegal sand excavation happening under the bridge. This illegal activity had raised serious concerns about the safety of the bridge and its long-term structural integrity.

In addition to preventing illegal sand mining, Umahi noted that the installation of cameras would serve as a deterrent to anyone planning to excavate sand under the bridge, as it would be quickly detected within a 10-kilometre radius.

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Furthermore, a monitoring station has been set up beside the bridge, where security personnel from the police, navy, army, and local security forces will work together.

These forces will be closely monitoring the footage captured by the CCTV cameras to ensure any suspicious activities, such as suicide attempts or illegal excavation, are immediately addressed.

Umahi also took the opportunity to discuss the recent emergency closure of the Independence Bridge in Lagos, which was shut down for repairs due to a structural issue.

He explained that the bridge’s approach slab had failed because of a design flaw. The cantilever approach used in the original construction turned out to be structurally inadequate. The sand fill beneath the slab had begun to leak, causing the entire structure to weaken.

This posed a significant risk to commuters, and the decision to close the bridge for repairs was deemed necessary to ensure public safety. Umahi assured the public that the repairs were already underway, and once completed, the bridge would be safe for use again.

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