The industrial city of Nnewi was thrown into turmoil on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, as bulldozers—allegedly acting on the orders of the Anambra State Government—descended on the headquarters of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM), Nigeria’s premier indigenous automobile company, partially demolishing the iconic facility in a move that has left many stunned and furious.
The demolition, carried out during working hours, reportedly endangered the lives of several employees, with over 20 vehicles and equipment left stranded in the rubble. According to Mr. Cornel Osigwe, Head of Corporate Communications at Innoson Group, the company received no prior notice of the impending action.
> “The demolition came to us as a surprise,” Osigwe lamented. “We did not know that the building itself was marked for demolition, and even if it was, the right thing would have been to give us adequate time to relocate. Staff were at work when the bulldozers arrived, some were even trapped inside.”
Osigwe expressed deep concern over what appeared to be selective demolition, pointing out that several nearby structures, which were also marked, remained untouched.
> “There were other buildings adjacent to our head office that were marked for demolition and yet were spared. But the agents came directly to our facility. This raises serious concerns and makes us wonder whether there’s an ulterior motive behind this action,” he said.
When probed on whether the move could be politically motivated, Osigwe was cautious but not dismissive.
> “Governor Charles Soludo has always been a great supporter of Innoson Motors, and we, in turn, have supported the Anambra State Government. But the abrupt and targeted manner in which this happened makes us question if perhaps some individuals within the system are nursing a personal vendetta against us, unknown to the governor,” he said.
The incident has ignited a firestorm on social media and among business stakeholders, who view the act as both shocking and potentially damaging to investor confidence in the state’s industrial sector.
However, the Anambra State Government, through the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ifeanyi Okoma, has stood its ground, insisting that the demolition was a necessary step in the ongoing road expansion and urban renewal program.
> “This is not about Innoson or any individual. These buildings were marked for demolition as far back as December or January. The road expansion is crucial to decongest traffic, especially during festive periods,” Okoma explained.
He further dismissed claims of bias, citing that even revered institutions were not spared.
> “The Catholic Church and many others along the route are also affected. No one is being singled out. This is a collective sacrifice for the greater good of the state,” he added.
Okoma also reiterated the state government’s support for the indigenous company.
> “Let it be clear: Governor Soludo is the only Nigerian governor who exclusively uses locally made vehicles—including those from Innoson. Chief Innoson is our own, and any attempt to spin a false narrative is an act of mischief.”
As investigations into the circumstances surrounding the demolition continue, questions linger: Was the move a genuine act of urban renewal, or a veiled assault on one of Nigeria’s most promising industrial legacies? Whatever the answer, one thing is clear—the scars of the bulldozers on Innoson’s walls have left a deeper wound in public trust.
PIONEER NEWS 