NNEWI, ANAMBRA – Chief Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma, the Chairman and CEO of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM), has officially refuted widespread social media claims suggesting he intended to relocate his manufacturing operations from Nigeria to Ghana.
The company dismissed the reports as “fake news” and “malicious misinformation” aimed at undermining the brand’s commitment to Nigerian industrialization. In a statement addressing the rumors, the management of IVM clarified that while the company seeks to expand its footprint across the ECOWAS region, its primary manufacturing hub and headquarters remain firmly rooted in Nnewi, Anambra State.
Contrary to the narrative of withdrawal, IVM has entered 2026 with a massive domestic expansion drive. Chief Chukwuma recently announced that the company is finalizing a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the production of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Electric Vehicles (EVs). This new plant is expected to be one of the largest specialized automotive factories in the world.
“Our commitment to Nigeria is unwavering,” a spokesperson for the company stated. “Rather than leaving, we are growing. We are currently in the process of hiring an additional 2,000 Nigerian staff to support our new production lines, bringing our total workforce to a record high.”
The reports of “lack of patronage” were also countered by recent high-profile partnerships. The Nigerian Federal Government, as well as several state governments, have recently taken delivery of hundreds of IVM CNG buses to cushion the effects of high fuel prices. Additionally, IVM continues to supply specialized tactical vehicles to the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Army, reinforcing its role as a strategic national asset.
While IVM has previously acknowledged invitations from the Ghanaian government to establish assembly plants in Accra, Chief Chukwuma has maintained that his priority is to solidify Nigeria’s position as the automotive hub of Africa before considering offshore manufacturing plants.
For now, Innoson continues to serve the West African market—including Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Mali—via exports from its Nigerian base, rather than relocation.
