BY EBI NIEKETIEN
THE Federal Government has said the newly installed CCTV security system at the Second Niger Bridge will significantly enhance safety along the axis, reduce emergency response time to less than five minutes and eliminate the need for security personnel to be physically stationed on the road.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, during the commissioning of the Second Niger Bridge CCTV Monitoring Centre, at the Delta axis of the bridge.
Umahi explained that the Centre would be operated and maintained by the Delta State Police Command, with strict monitoring by federal authorities to ensure efficiency. He disclosed that the Federal Government would provide two pickup vans and a boat to support police operations, alongside a monthly imprest of ₦3 million.
He further revealed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved a ban on sand mining within a 10-kilometre radius of all bridges across the country, noting that security agencies had been given the authority to arrest defaulters.
Umahi expressed satisfaction with the progress of work on the 17.5-kilometre Section 2A bypass of the Second Niger Bridge, being handled by CCECC. He attributed the accelerated pace of construction to the Delta State Government’s 100 per cent payment of compensation.
The minister noted that the bypass was being constructed with reinforced concrete pavement, stressing that all major federal roads under President Tinubu’s administration were being redesigned with concrete pavement to ensure durability of up to 100 years.
He expressed satisfaction with the quality of the rehabilitation work on the 11.5-kilometre dual carriageway stretching from Summit Junction to the First Niger Bridge head, but lamented the slow pace of work by the contractors.
Umahi noted that the road has been redesigned with reinforced concrete pavement and robust drainage infrastructure to tackle the persistent gridlock.
In his remarks, the Asagba of Asaba, HRM, Obi (Prof) Epiphany Azinge, described the commissioning of the CCTV monitoring Centre as another milestone by the Federal Government, following the earlier groundbreaking of access roads to the Second Niger Bridge.
The monarch said the surveillance system would play a critical role in strengthening the security architecture of Asaba and its environs, while serving as a deterrent to crime, vandalism and other activities that put public infrastructure at risk.
He expressed confidence that before the end of President Tinubu’s administration, particularly ahead of 2027, more milestones would be achieved through the Ministry of Works, driven by the minister.
Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Aina Adesola, said the deployment of the CCTV system would significantly enhance policing and make security operations more effective in tackling criminal activities previously experienced along the axis.
He added that beyond crime prevention, the surveillance infrastructure would help reduce road accidents and improve traffic management, ensuring a smoother and freer flow of vehicles across the Second Niger Bridge and adjoining routes.
