Nigeria’s newly deployed CCTV surveillance system has recorded its first major success, leading to the arrest of 3 suspected vandals on the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge.

The suspects were caught in real time while prying open 156 cat eye reflective lights installed to improve visibility and enhance the bridge’s aesthetics. The incident was detected by the monitoring team overseeing the federal government’s upgraded CCTV network on the corridor.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, made the disclosure on Saturday during the parade of the suspects, urging Nigerians to take collective ownership of public infrastructure and actively protect assets within their communities.

The suspects, who claimed to be scavengers popularly known as Bola, were unable to provide coherent explanations when questioned about their actions.

Umahi commended the Nigeria Police for their swift response but expressed concern over what he described as widespread indifference towards public infrastructure, warning that such attitudes undermine national development efforts.

The Minister also condemned what he called appalling indiscipline by road users on a temporarily opened section of the coastal highway, linking it to the recent death of a construction worker on the route.

He directed the State Controller of Works to ensure the suspects are prosecuted, while warning that the CCTV Eagle Eye on the Third Mainland Bridge remains fully operational to deter and expose criminal activity. (Arise News)