The Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Wednesday, said the Federal Government will install closed-circuit television, also known surveillance cameras, on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, which is currently under repairs.

He noted that the repair works on the bridge included replacement of defective slabs, provision of streetlights, and the installation, among others.

A statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Information, Olusola Abiola, on Wednesday, said the ministers spoke after a joint assessment tour of the Third Mainland Bridge, Eko, and Carter bridges.

The Federal Government had on January 9, 2024, closed the bridge for comprehensive rehabilitation due to several failed portions of the bridge.

Umahi allayed the fear of Lagos road users about the integrity of the bridges.

Umahi said, “Some of the defective elements are going to be fixed but there’s nothing to worry about. We are going to reinstate those defective slabs with the new design.

“Over the years, after the construction of the bridge, there was no serious maintenance. So, we are working on the problems with the bridges.

“Some comprehensive works would be done especially in the area of provision of streetlights on and under the bridge and installation of CCTV and the bridge would be opened to road users very soon.”

On the state of the Lagos shoreline, Senator Umahi said the Lagos railway project, the Blue Line might be threatened if nothing was done to address the matter.

At the end of the exercise, the ministers, who agreed there was a need for rehabilitation work to be carried out, said the impact created by the current of water under the bridges and on the shoreline needed intervention.

On his part, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, commended the Minister of Works and his team for their efforts at rehabilitating the roads and bridges as he described them as very important for economic development.

Edun said, “What we are targeting and working towards is a 77 per cent increase in Internally Generated Revenue for the Federal Government; so, that is where the funding particularly is going to come from.” (Channels TV)

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