The Anambra State government has sparked controversy by demolishing parts of the head office of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) in Nnewi, along the Owerri-Nnewi road, on April 16. The partial demolition, which affected the office’s perimeter fence, some offices, a staircase, and the company’s showroom, has drawn sharp criticism from IVM, which claims it received no prior notification.
Mr. Cornel Osigwe, Head of Corporate Communications at Innoson Group, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Saturday, describing the demolition as sudden and disruptive. “The staff were working when the demolition vehicle began tearing down the building. Some workers were trapped inside, and over 20 vehicles were also trapped,” Osigwe said. He noted that while a public announcement had been made a day earlier about demolitions with a one-week relocation notice for marked buildings, IVM was unaware its head office was targeted.
Osigwe questioned why other nearby marked buildings were spared, raising concerns about possible ulterior motives. “The way this happened makes us wonder if those handling the demolition have a personal vendetta against the company,” he said, though he dismissed suggestions of a political witch-hunt, citing Governor Charles Soludo’s support for IVM.
Defending the action, Anambra State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ifeanyi Okoma, insisted the IVM head office was among buildings marked for demolition to facilitate road construction aimed at easing traffic congestion during festive periods. “These buildings were marked in December or January. This is not personalized; it affects all structures along the road, including the Catholic Church,” Okoma said. He emphasized Soludo’s commitment to IVM, noting that the governor exclusively uses Innoson vehicles and urged against misrepresenting the demolition exercise.
Comments
Post a Comment