Elochukwu Benjamin
Awka
The Managing Director of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata (CFA), has called for greater use of technology and citizen participation to tackle environmental challenges, saying a greener and smarter Anambra over the next 35 years will depend on stronger digital connections between residents and government.
In a message marking Anambra State’s 35th anniversary, Agbata said this year’s theme, “Our Environment, Our Future,” highlights the urgent need to address erosion, flooding, blocked drainage systems, indiscriminate waste disposal and mounting pressure on communities across the state.
He noted that while Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration has placed significant emphasis on environmental sustainability, technology should become a critical tool for identifying and responding to problems before they escalate.
According to him, residents are often the first to notice emerging environmental hazards, and digital platforms can help bridge the gap between what communities observe and what government knows.
“The opportunity before us is to use technology to shorten the distance between what Ndi Anambra see and what government knows,” he said.
Agbata highlighted the state’s Smart Anambra digital gateway and SolutionLens platform as initiatives designed to enable residents to report environmental concerns, provide feedback and engage government more easily.
He explained that beyond receiving complaints, the platforms can help authorities identify patterns from multiple reports on flooding, drainage or erosion, enabling earlier intervention and better allocation of resources.
He described the approach as a practical expression of Governor Soludo’s vision of “Everything Technology, Technology Everywhere,” which seeks to integrate technology across government services and public administration.
The ICT Agency boss stressed, however, that digital innovation should complement rather than replace community responsibility.
He urged residents not to ignore minor environmental problems that could be safely addressed at the community level, warning that small drainage blockages and illegal waste dumping often grow into major flooding and sanitation challenges when left unattended.
Agbata said communities should act where they reasonably can while promptly alerting government when intervention exceeds their capacity.
According to him, the same digital connection between government and citizens can also improve oversight of public infrastructure, government projects and service delivery across the state.
As Anambra celebrates 35 years of statehood, he urged stakeholders to look beyond creating more digital platforms and instead focus on ensuring that technology delivers practical solutions, strengthens public participation and brings government closer to the people.
He maintained that protecting the environment will require a combination of responsible communities, responsive governance and technology that enables faster communication and better decision-making
