Anambra Govt demolishes Innoson head office for road expansion

The Anambra State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ifeanyi Okoma, has clarified that the partial demolition of the Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) Head Office along the Nnewi-Owerri Road was part of the state’s planned road construction project aimed at decongesting traffic. The demolition is not a targeted or personal action against the company, Okoma explained.

On Thursday, Okoma confirmed that the affected buildings were marked for demolition as early as December or January, with residents informed of the decision. He assured that no individual or entity was specifically singled out for the demolition, pointing out that even the Catholic Church and other nearby structures would not be exempted from the construction project.

Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, however, has expressed dissatisfaction with the demolition, claiming that they received no prior notice. The company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Cornel Osigwe, said that the demolition caught the staff by surprise, with some employees becoming trapped in the building as construction began. Osigwe further alleged that nearby buildings marked for demolition had not been affected.

While questioning the timing and method of the demolition, Osigwe dismissed any political motivations, acknowledging that Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State had always been a supporter of the company. However, he raised concerns that the demolition could have been executed with a lack of coordination or oversight.