Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Henry Owen
Lagos, Nigeria — The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has appealed to Nigerians to take collective responsibility for protecting public infrastructure, following the arrest and parade of suspects caught vandalising road safety installations on one of the nation’s busiest bridges. Speaking in Lagos on Friday, Umahi underscored the importance of civic ownership and active community participation in safeguarding critical national assets.
Addressing journalists and officials after the parade of three suspects accused of damaging reflective road fittings on the Third Mainland Bridge, the minister applauded security agencies for their prompt response but lamented what he described as a disturbing lack of respect among some residents for public property. The arrests were made possible through a newly deployed Closed‑Circuit Television (CCTV) monitoring system, part of a larger federal effort to enhance surveillance on key transportation corridors.
The suspects are reported to have been caught prying open and removing 156 cat‑eye reflective lights—safety features designed to improve visibility and aesthetics on the Third Mainland Bridge. These devices, installed along the bridge’s yellow line to aid motorists at night and during poor weather conditions, are part of broader infrastructure upgrades being undertaken by the Federal Ministry of Works. Real‑time monitoring by CCTV allowed the Lagos State Police Command to intervene and arrest the individuals on the spot.
At the briefing, Minister Umahi thanked police officers for their vigilance and emphasised that the CCTV system is already yielding tangible results against vandalism. He noted that attacks on infrastructure, including theft of metal components and reflective lights, have become recurrent challenges in many parts of the country, undermining government investments and jeopardising road safety.
“We installed these systems not only for surveillance but to foster a sense of shared ownership. Public infrastructure belongs to all of us,” Umahi said, expressing disappointment that “some Nigerians are busy destroying what has been built for our collective benefit.” He reiterated that the success of modern monitoring technology ultimately hinges on cooperation from the public, including reporting suspicious activities and discouraging acts of vandalism.
The minister also used the occasion to highlight another imminent issue affecting transportation infrastructure. Umahi disclosed that indiscipline by motorists on the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway—particularly reckless driving, wrong‑way movements and excessive speeding—has forced authorities to consider temporary closure of a section of the highway. He warned that if such unsafe practices persist, the Federal Government might be left with no option but to halt traffic until proper safety measures and compliance are ensured.
His remarks reflect broader concerns over road safety and infrastructure protection in Nigeria’s rapidly growing urban centres. The Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, a flagship federal project aimed at enhancing connectivity across the country’s southern corridor, has seen a significant temporary opening to alleviate traffic, but efforts to maintain order and protect ongoing construction have encountered obstacles. The minister stressed that ensuring both security and discipline on these roads is critical to preventing accidents and preserving investments.
Beyond vandalism and road user behaviour, Umahi also condemned the loss of life resulting from indiscipline on the coastal highway project, particularly the recent death of a construction worker in the corridor. He used the platform to call for heightened awareness and adherence to safety protocols among motorists and workers alike, arguing that road infrastructure development must proceed hand‑in‑hand with public compliance and respect for rules of the road.
The deployment of CCTV surveillance and rapid response mechanisms aligns with federal initiatives under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI), which aims to integrate modern monitoring systems, emergency response, and maintenance strategies across major federal roads and bridges. Officials contend that this technology not only deters criminal acts such as vandalism but also enhances security and road condition reporting in real time.
Security analysts have noted that while technological solutions like CCTV networks can significantly improve infrastructure protection, community engagement and public awareness remain key to their success. Encouraging citizens to value and protect shared assets, from reflective lights to structural components, could reduce vandalism and improve overall road safety. In particular, the case at the Third Mainland Bridge serves as a reminder of how negligence and theft can erode years of development investment.
The police parade of the vandalism suspects sends a strong message that authorities are ready to prosecute offenders and will not tolerate actions that jeopardise public safety or waste government resources. As the federal government continues to roll out advanced surveillance systems across strategic infrastructure, the call for collective vigilance and responsibility resonates as a crucial part of preserving national assets.
For now, the message from the Ministry of Works is clear: public infrastructure, once built, must be protected by all Nigerians, and those found undermining these efforts risk arrest and prosecution. The evolving partnership between technology, law enforcement and community stewardship could mark a turning point in how critical infrastructure is safeguarded across Africa’s most populous nation.
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