Anambra Government Defends Partial Demolition of Innoson Motors Head Office Amid Outrage

While distancing the development from any political undertones, Osigwe maintained that Innoson has always enjoyed a cordial relationship with the state government. “Governor Charles Soludo has been a great supporter of Innoson Motors, and Innoson has been supportive of his administration as well.

Awka, Nigeria – The Anambra State Government has come under scrutiny following the partial demolition of the head office of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) in Nnewi on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

The incident, which reportedly occurred while staff were on duty, left some workers trapped inside the building. Over 20 vehicles were also said to have been trapped during the exercise. The development has sparked reactions from stakeholders, with many questioning the motive behind the action.

Reacting to the incident, the Head of Corporate Communications at Innoson Group, Mr. Cornel Osigwe, expressed shock over the exercise, noting that the company was not given prior notice. “The demolition came to us as a surprise. We did not know that the building itself was marked for demolition, and if it was, they should have given us time to relocate,” he said in a statement.

Osigwe also questioned the selective nature of the demolition, pointing out that other nearby structures, which were also marked for demolition, were left untouched. “There were other buildings close to the head office and marked for demolition that were not demolished. But they came straight to our building and pulled it down, making us wonder if there was another ulterior motive to it,” he added.

While distancing the development from any political undertones, Osigwe maintained that Innoson has always enjoyed a cordial relationship with the state government. “Governor Charles Soludo has been a great supporter of Innoson Motors, and Innoson has been supportive of his administration as well. But the way and manner everything unfolded makes us wonder if some individuals handling the demolition have personal issues with the company,” he added.

In response to the controversy, the Anambra State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ifeanyi Okoma, defended the government’s action, stating that the demolition was part of a broader road construction project aimed at easing traffic congestion in the area.

Okoma clarified that the buildings affected, including the IVM head office, were marked as far back as December 2024 or January 2025. He emphasized that the exercise was not targeted at any individual or group. “We are not looking at personalities; it is a general exercise that affects all structures along the designated road. Even the Catholic Church and other institutions are not exempted,” he explained.

The commissioner further dismissed allegations of bias or vendetta, insisting that the project was for the overall public good. “Governor Soludo remains the only governor in Nigeria who uses locally manufactured vehicles. Chief Innoson is our own. Anyone trying to twist the narrative does not mean well,” he concluded.