Delight Chinedum
Anambra state government has given explanations over controversies surrounding the partial demolition of Innoson Motors’ showroom in Nnewi, the industrial city of the state.
Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor made the clarification in a statement titled, “INNOSON SHOWROOM PARTIAL DEMOLITION: BUILDING MARKED SINCE NOVEMBER 2024 AFTER STAKEHOLDERS’ CONSULTATIVE MEETING”
According to him, the exercise was carried out following encroachment on the federal government’s right-of-way along the Nnewi-Ozubulu-Onitsha federal highway.
He said the structure was marked for removal in November 2024, after a stakeholders’ consultative meeting and public announcements.
He maintained that the demolition was carried out by the Federal Highway Act of 1971, which defines the right-of-way as 45.72 meters from the centre line of any federal highway.
He described as false, untrue, and mischievous deliberate misinformation peddled by paid content creators over the demolition exercise, saying it was targeted at discrediting the good works of the state government.
Appreciating the high position of Innoson in the society, Mefor stressed that government could not afford to have different set of rules for Innoson and another one for others.
He stressed that Soludo, driven by empathy for the people would continue to ensure that nothing short of the public good in overriding public interest was done for the sake of posterity.
The statement reads, “The Government of Anambra State is constrained to issue some clarifications on the trending misinformation about the Innoson Motors Showroom that was partially demolished at Nnewi. The verifiable facts are as follows.
“Firstly, since the inception of the Soludo administration, there has been no instance where demolition or removal of structures was undertaken without due process and consultation with critical stakeholders.
“On October 31, 2024, a notice of a stakeholders’ meeting was issued to all concerned and affected persons whose businesses and properties were on the right-of-way along the Nnewi-Ozubulu-Onitsha federal highway.
“This meeting was convened in the office of the Anambra State Commissioner for Works on November 1, 2024, after which a public announcement was issued, followed by a removal notice and marking of affected structures, which was activated on November 19, 2024.
“Dr. Innocent Chukwuma knows that he was given notice several months ago and he spoke to several people about it more than three months ago, including a call to the Governor. Unfortunately, while we appreciate the high position of Innoson in the society, we cannot have a different set of rules for Innoson and another one for others.
“The said Innoson property was listed in the registration as belonging to one Mrs. Eucharia Alaru and was marked as ASML/AOA/NW/L/066 for removal. For the avoidance of doubt, it is essential to state that the Federal Government’s “right-of-way” is clearly defined by the subsisting Federal Highway Act of 1971 as the ground within 45.72 metres from the centre line of any federal highway in the nation. This rule is a prime safety measure to secure and preserve human lives and ensure easy and unfettered vehicular movement.
“All of this was made manifestly clear to the stakeholders at the meeting on November 1, 2024, and further communicated in the public notice signed by the Commissioner for Works subsequently. While we sympathise with all affected businesses and properties along the statutory right-of-way, we must underscore that a government that has acted within the confines of the law, empathy and compassion cannot be blackmailed by any individual or group to derail the ongoing development of the state for selfish reasons.
“The demolition of the said Innoson building occurred more than four (4) months after notices had been issued to all concerned, including through the Nnewi town union President General.
“The Soludo administration has continued to champion the cause of indigenous enterprises in words and action, exemplified in Governor Soludo’s decision to make Innoson Vehicle Motor (IVM) his official fleet. It is on record that he is the first and still the only state governor to do so till today despite major deficiencies and risks associated with the vehicles.
“It is, therefore, pertinent to correct the deliberate misinformation peddled by paid content creators to discredit the good works of the state government. Their narrative is false, untrue, and at best, mischievous and a political machination of a few to score cheap, albeit selfish points. Those paid to spread falsehood, deliberately refused to also report that properties belonging to the first National leader of APGA, Dim Ojukwu, as well as his wife and current minister, Iyom Bianca Ojukwu, churches, and hundreds of others, were also demolished in the ongoing effort to rebuild Anambra. Governor Soludo is driven by empathy for the people and will continue to ensure that nothing short of the public good in overriding public interest is done for the sake of posterity.
“While we empathize and sympathize with all those affected, it is important to re-emphasize that all properties within 45.72 metres from the centre line of the road infringes on the right-of-way and are therefore illegal structures which ought to have been removed by their owners at their own cost. This point is important for all property owners along the road or those intending to build in the future.
“Making Anambra livable and prosperous requires a state governed by law and order for everyone and not one where exceptions are made for the powerful. Anambra is on the rise because Solution is here and will continue!”