Anambra’s ‘Solution Lens’: Bridging the gap between government and the governed

In a bold move to further deepen transparency and accountability in governance, the Anambra State Government has launched Open Government Partnership (OGP) Action Plan 2, with the unveiling of a tech-driven platform named ‘Solution Lens’. Designed as a citizen-interface tool, the Solution Lens is a response to Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s open government promise; a pledge rooted in the need for a people-centric administration that is accessible, responsive, and participatory.

Unveiled in Awka on April 8, and co-hosted by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning alongside the Anambra State ICT Agency, the event marked a significant step in narrowing the communication gap between government and citizens.

According to the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs. Chiamaka Nnake, the new platform signifies “a new era in Anambra where openness in governance is key.” She emphasized that one of the Governor’s core campaign commitments was to create transparent governance systems where “everybody would be carried along.”

At its core, the Solution Lens is a real-time digital interface designed to provide information about government projects, policies, and development sites. Citizens can now search by ministry or sector, and access verified data on infrastructural developments, budget allocations, and completed or ongoing initiatives.

Mr. Castro Ideke of the ICT Agency noted during a demonstration that the platform enables residents to directly engage government agencies by searching key terms or ministries, from health and education to lands and transportation, and retrieve necessary updates without bureaucratic bottlenecks. “This is how the people can shape governance to their taste,” he said.

In a state like Anambra, where Governor Soludo’s administration has in just three years initiated and completed dozens of roads, school rehabilitations, market infrastructure, digital reforms, and healthcare upgrades, the need for structured citizen feedback and information flow is more critical than ever. The Solution Lens offers a modernized portal to project these achievements transparently.

For instance, the successful construction of over 450 kilometres of roads and another 300 kilometres ongoing, are often unnoticed in remote parts of the state due to lack of awareness. The Solution Lens now offers a space where such projects are properly documented, with geo-tagged locations, timelines, and status updates.

Similarly, the rollout of Soludo’s Education Transformation Agenda, including the digital teacher recruitment process and massive school rehabilitation in public primary and secondary schools, can be tracked by users in real-time, ensuring community ownership of these reforms.

The Solution Lens essentially promotes a two-way communication system. It does not only inform citizens but also allows them to report anomalies, raise questions, or make suggestions. This kind of feedback loop is rare in conventional government settings where policies are top-down and often lack feedbacks.

Involving stakeholders like Town Union representatives, Civil Liberty Organizations, and community leaders at the OGP launch was a clear indication that grassroots ownership is a major target of the initiative. These groups can help relay digital feedback for less tech-savvy citizens.

While the platform presents immense promise, accessibility remains a challenge. The average Anambra resident, especially in rural communities, might not own a smartphone, nor have the digital literacy to navigate such platforms.

According to a 2023 NBS survey, over 58% of rural households in South East Nigeria lack access to smartphones or mobile internet, and a significant portion of the population remains semi-literate. This digital divide could stifle the effectiveness of the Solution Lens if alternative, non-digital access points are not created.

The State Government should therefore consider deploying community ICT kiosks, partnering with religious institutions, local government councils, and youth groups to democratize access to the platform. Additionally, periodic town hall sensitizations using local languages will be critical to ensuring no one is left behind.

As Anambra charts a new course toward e-governance, the Solution Lens can become a beacon of participatory governance, if well implemented. For a government that has shown significant delivery of people-oriented projects, the tool is both a showcase and accountability portal.

However, true success will depend not just on innovation, but on inclusive outreach, continuous feedback, and the political will to act on the voice of the people. The Soludo administration, already known for its bold reforms, has an opportunity to make Anambra a model for open governance in Nigeria not just in idea, but in impact.

Nwosu, PhD, writes from Awka.