It was a mild drama today in Ilorin during the Kwara state monthly environmental sanitation exercise as the erring truck driver of a bottling company hit the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Alhaji Amosa Isiaka Al-amin during the enforcement of the exercise.
Similarly, a hit-and-run driver also knocked down a Civil Defence Officer on duty at Ola-Olu area along Ajase-Ipo road Ilorin.
These unfortunate incidents happened in various locations during today’s exercise as some violators were bulldozing their ways despite the road block mounted by the joint task force at various strategic locations within the Ilorin metropolis.
The flagrant violation of the state environmental law by some residents was attributable to the conspicuous absence of security personnel during the exercise.
Narrating his ordeal during the briefing shortly after the exercise at the premises of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Al-amin said the truck driver was accosted by the men on duty at a junction in front of the Ministry of Environment, along Ahmadu Bello way while the exercise was on.
According to him, I stood by the road side with other staff of the Ministry and other collaborating agencies and the driver was advised to obey the rule of the game and wait till the end of the exercise.
They were three in the the vehicle, one of the them came down and was directed to the Judge to explain himself before the mobile court.
In the process, the driver of the truck suddenly moved the vehicle, aiming towards me and, within a twinkle of an eye, knocked me down where I stood in front of the Royals Eatery and sped off.
This unruly behavior of this driver got everybody by surprise including other permanent Secretaries who joined us for the exercise as my men swiftly pursued him and later got him in front of the Ministry of Health, Fate area. The driver is now at large.
I sustain little injuries bust I have to thank God that I narrowly escaped death today. One of the men have been handed over to the police while the driver and the third man have taken to their heels” he narrated.
He noted that this defiant behavior was made possible because of the absence of security men particularly the Nigeria Police who boycotted the exercise exposing them to a serious danger.
Al-amin disclosed further that the injured Civil Defence Officer has been hospitalized adding that he is responding to treatment in the hospital and recuperating.
The Permanent Secretary pledged that the government will not rest on its oars to ensure that the state is kept clean and tidy and free from any environmental related diseases.
In her address at the briefing, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Mariam Garba called for the need to intensify more effort on the enforcement of the exercise by making sure that everybody plays his roles towards ensuring the success of the exercise.
The Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Local government, Culture, Dr (Mrs.) Ajibike Katibi, Hajia Alimat Kperogi respectively and Permanent Secretary Civil Service Commission, Alhaji Abubakar Bello Muhammad in their separate comments described the attitude of some people towards the exercise as uncalled for and called for the need to collectively work towards moving the state forward through a joint efforts.
End.
