By Wellington Jopelo
The Federal Government has disclosed that the total rehabilitation of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State cost N43 billion, while the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) control centre installed on the bridge cost about N2.5 billion.
The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, made the disclosure on Monday in Lagos while speaking with journalists, clarifying reports surrounding the cost of the project.
Umahi explained that the rehabilitation covered 14 kilometres of the bridge, spanning 14 metres in width across two carriageways. According to him, the scope of work included rebuilding and repainting concrete sections, replacing expansion joints and installing solar-powered lighting systems.
“The total contract sum for the rehabilitation of the bridge is N43 billion. The cost of the CCTV centre is not more than N2.5 billion,” the minister said.
He stressed that claims suggesting the CCTV centre alone cost N40 billion were false, noting that the surveillance facility was an integral part of the bridge rehabilitation contract.
Umahi recalled that upon assuming office in 2023, the administration met the Third Mainland Bridge, as well as Carter and Iddo bridges, in a severely deteriorated state.
“When we came on board in 2023, we met a very terrible Third Mainland Bridge, Carter Bridge and Iddo Bridge both on the pavement surface, infrastructure above the water and even infrastructure below the water,” he said.
He added that President Bola Tinubu subsequently ordered a comprehensive re-evaluation of the bridges, leading to the full rehabilitation of the Third Mainland Bridge and the replacement of its expansion joints.
Also speaking, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mr Olufemi Dare, said the CCTV centre was the first of its kind on any bridge in Nigeria.
Dare said the facility is equipped with surveillance boats, two Hilux patrol vans, 240 solar panels, inverters, monitoring screens, a 300KVA transformer, a standby generator and a fully air-conditioned control room to ensure round-the-clock monitoring of the bridge.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has reiterated that there are no plans to toll the rehabilitated Third Mainland Bridge. Umahi also disclosed that a tow van and an ambulance have been stationed on the bridge to respond swiftly to emergencies.