The Anambra State Government has come under heavy criticism following the demolition of several buildings along the Nnewi-Owerri Road as part of a road expansion project. The exercise, which commenced on Wednesday under the supervision of the state’s Physical and Building Control Agency, has affected hundreds of properties, including shops, businesses, and homes. A particularly notable casualty of the demolition was the partial destruction of the headquarters of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, one of Nigeria’s largest indigenous car manufacturers.
Footage from the scene of the demolitions showed the scale of destruction, with owners of the affected properties seen expressing their shock and frustration over the loss of their businesses and homes. The demolition has since sparked a wave of reactions, both from those directly impacted and members of the public, including concerns over the handling of the operation.
Several of the affected property owners have raised objections to the process, claiming they were not given adequate notice of the demolition. One of the landlords, Chief Emenike Gabriel, spoke to KIIN360 on Friday, expressing disappointment over the lack of communication. “We were not properly notified about this demolition. The government did not carry out the exercise with due diligence,” Gabriel said. “Some of these buildings have been standing for over 70 years. They marked these buildings for demolition, but most of us were not aware. If the buildings were indeed marked, we should have been given time to relocate.”
However, in defense of the government’s actions, the Commissioner for Works, Ifeanyi Okoma, released a statement on Friday, explaining that the affected buildings had been marked for demolition as early as December 2024, with notices sent to the owners. Okoma emphasized that the demolition was not targeted at any individual or group, but rather part of a larger project aimed at alleviating traffic congestion, especially during busy festival periods. He also clarified that the demolition would affect all properties along the road, including a Catholic Church, which had allegedly been blocking a drainage channel.
“These buildings were marked sometime in December or January, and the affected persons were duly informed,” Okoma said. “It’s not about targeting individuals or any political figures. Even the Catholic Church and other buildings along the road are included in this project. The goal is to decongest traffic, which has become a major issue, especially during festival periods.”
Okoma further addressed the issue surrounding the partial demolition of Innoson’s headquarters, stressing that there was no special treatment for the company. “There’s no reason to politicize this,” he added. “Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo is the only governor in Nigeria who uses made-in-Nigeria vehicles, and Chief Innoson is a great supporter of the state. Anyone trying to create a false narrative around the demolition does not have good intentions.”
Despite this, Innoson Group’s Head of Corporate Communications, Cornel Osigwe, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the way the demolition was carried out. He stated that the company had not received any prior notification, and the demolition came as a complete surprise to the staff. Osigwe confirmed that the perimeter fence, some office spaces, and the company’s showroom were partially destroyed during the operation.
“There was no pre-notification. The demolition came as a shock to us. We were not aware that our building was marked for demolition,” Osigwe said. “If it had been marked, they should have given us time to relocate. Our staff were working when the demolition vehicles arrived, and some of them were trapped inside the building. It took our other staff members to rescue them while over 20 vehicles were also trapped.”
Osigwe further disclosed that, although an announcement had been made the day before, stating that buildings marked for demolition had one week to relocate, Innoson was not included in this communication. “A day before the demolition, there was an announcement that there would be a demolition and that all affected buildings had one week to vacate. We were not aware that our building was on the list, and even if we had been, the notice was not enough to prepare for the demolition,” Osigwe said.
He also pointed out that several other buildings close to Innoson’s headquarters, which were also marked for demolition, had not been touched. “Some buildings nearby were marked for demolition but were not touched, making us wonder if there was another motive behind this selective demolition,” he said.
Despite the tense situation, Osigwe acknowledged the positive relationship between the state government and Innoson, stating that both the governor and the company have supported each other. However, he expressed concerns about the manner in which the demolition was handled, which led him to question whether the state government was aware of the actions of those in charge of the operation. “The way this was handled makes us wonder if the state government is aware that those handling the demolition may have a personal vendetta against the company,” Osigwe concluded.
As the demolition continues, it is clear that tensions are rising over the handling of the exercise, with many questioning the government’s commitment to proper communication and fairness in the process.