Innoson, Others Violating Federal Highways’ RoWs Were Duly Notified Since 2024 –Anambra Govt Clarifies
Anambra State government has cleared the air on the misleading information regarding the Innoson Motors Showroom that was partially demolished at Nnewi, as notice of evacuation was issued since 2024 at a stakeholders meeting.
It stated that 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.
According to the Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, on 31st of October, 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.
Mefor stated that Dr. Innocent Chukwuma knows 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,” he said.
The said Innoson property was listed in the registration as belonging to Mrs. Eucharia Alaru and was marked as ASML/AOA/NW/L/066 for removal. This is in line with the Federal Government’s “right-of-way” which 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 should not be occupied.
This is a safety measure to secure and preserve human lives and ensure easy and unfettered vehicular movement.
Mefor affirmed that this fact was pointed out to stakeholders at the meeting on the 1st of November 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,” he asserted.
Interestingly, 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 to date.
“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,” Mefor clarified.
He added that 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 of State for Foreign Affairs, Iyom Bianca Ojukwu, churches, and hundreds of others, were also demolished in the ongoing effort to rebuild Anambra.
Mefor further remarked that making Anambra livable and prosperous requires a state governed by law and order for everyone and no exceptions for the powerful.
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