ANAMMCO Denies UNN Alleged Takeover Claim

TThe management of Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company Limited (ANAMMCO) has denied claims that there is a pact with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka to take over the auto company in Emene, Enugu, for the production of tractors. Astatement by the Special Assistant to Executive Director,ANAMMCO, Rev. Iheanyi Ogbonna described the reports credited to the Vice Chancellor of UNN, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, in some newspapers, as “false, malicious, mischievous, misleading and provocative. The statement further said, “ANAMMCO is shocked and deeply disturbed that these false, malicious, mischievous, misleading and provocative publications were credited to a personality like the Vice Chancellor of a citadel like the UNN in an apparent desperation to show results of excellent performance. The claim has generated negative perception and unquantifiable damage in the minds of our stakeholders, which include our shareholders, technical partners, tee ming customers and suppliers. “ANAMMCO is in very good standing with no discussion whatsoever and howsoever with any institution for take-over. The very good standing is reinforced by strategic alliances that are guaranteeing a decent utilisation of the production capacity. This is in addition to the rejuvenated global standard Technical and Vocational Training Institute to provide high impact solutions to unemployment for the Nigerian public.” Ogbonna stated that ANAMMCO was “open to strategic alliances with credible partners that attain set criteria and standards,” but that it was not in any discussion with the UNN, nor with any other organisation for that matter, to take over the plant. The company also demanded an “immediate retraction of the claim from the Vice Chancellor in order to correct the negative perception already created in the public domain and save the company the resultant embarrassment.”