Anambra State has secured an international award from Google for using advanced technology to improve how it collects property tax. The state emerged winner in the Top Fan Vote category at the prestigious Google Maps Platform Awards after standing out among more than 4,000 global entries.
The recognition centres on how the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AiRS) deployed Google Maps and Earth Engine technologies to modernise property tax administration. Through a large-scale digital mapping initiative known as the APLUC project, the state has identified about 1.5 million properties across Anambra.
Out of this figure, over 553,000 properties have already been digitally clustered and prepared for taxation. This process improves property enumeration, reduces manual errors, and enhances transparency in internally generated revenue (IGR) collection.
The award places Anambra on the global innovation map for leveraging geospatial technology in public finance management. By integrating satellite mapping and digital tools into land and property records, the state is building a more reliable and data-driven tax system.
Receiving the award in Silicon Valley, the Executive Chairman of AiRS, Greg Ezeilo, described the recognition as validation of deliberate, technology-driven reforms. He noted that once harmonisation of the property database is completed, Anambra will unlock stronger and more dependable revenue streams to support development.
The digitisation effort is part of the state’s broader “Everything Technology, Technology Everywhere” programme, which focuses on modernising governance processes through digital tools. A key component of this strategy is the implementation of the Anambra State Geographic Information System (ANAMGIS), designed to update land records and improve property administration across the state.
By identifying 1.5 million properties and clustering more than 553,000 for taxation, Anambra has significantly expanded its property database. This expansion is expected to strengthen compliance, reduce revenue leakages, and promote fairness in tax assessment.
Beyond revenue gains, the project demonstrates how subnational governments can adopt global technologies to solve local challenges. The use of mapping and earth observation tools ensures that property identification is accurate, verifiable, and transparent.
With this international recognition from Google, Anambra State reinforces its commitment to digital governance and technology-led reforms, using innovation to build a more efficient and accountable property tax system.
