The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has announced the full automation of its revenue system, with an outright ban on cash payments and unauthorised collections effective from January 1, 2026.
The Council Chairman, Honourable Christopher Maikalangu, disclosed this during a press conference in Abuja.
Maikalangu described the policy as a decisive move to block revenue leakages, entrench transparency and boost service delivery across the council.
“For too long, our revenue system has been undermined by manual processes that created loopholes. By the grace of God, that era ends today,” he said.
The chairman stated that under the new policy, all revenues payable to AMAC must be processed exclusively through the official AMAC Smart Tax platform (amactax.ng/payment), with payments going directly into the council’s central Single Account.
“We are eliminating cash payments completely. No official is authorised to collect cash. Every naira paid will go straight into the council’s single account,” the chairman said.
Special Tribunal Monitoring Task Force
To ensure strict compliance, Maikalangu announced that a Special Tribunal Monitoring Task Force would be inaugurated in early 2026. The task force, working with environmental cadets and enforcement officers, will monitor business districts and communities across the area council.
“Any individual or business that attempts to bypass this automated system will be apprehended and prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” he warned.
Payment Process
Explaining the payment process, the AMAC boss said taxpayers are required to use amacsmarttax.ng via mobile application or web browser to make payments and instantly generate electronic receipts.
“If anyone asks you to pay cash or into a private bank account, report it immediately. Any account outside AMAC Smart Tax is fake,” he cautioned.
Maikalangu also disclosed that although the council has generated over ₦5 billion in revenue from January to date, the figure he said remains far below AMAC’s true revenue potential, considering its extensive coverage of high-value areas such as Maitama, Asokoro, Gwarinpa, Nyanya, Karshi, Dei-Dei and the Abuja airport axis.
“With the number of hotels, banks and estates in AMAC, there should be no excuse for revenue shortfalls. That is why we are taking these tough decisions to end leakages,” he said.
He stated that while some revenue racketeers had previously been arrested and prosecuted, enforcement would now be stricter, with mobile courts empowered to seal premises of defaulting businesses.
According to him, “Any hotel or business that refuses to comply will be taken to court or sealed. We will also expose defaulters publicly.”
Special Provisions
provisions have been made for market traders without smartphones, who can pay directly into the designated AMAC account at any Zenith Bank branch.
The Chairman further warned residents and business owners to disregard all demand notices issued before 2026.
“Do not pay any demand notice issued before January 2026. Wait for the official council notice directing you to AMAC Smart Tax. If you pay elsewhere, you will pay twice,” he cautioned.
Describing the reform as non-negotiable, Maikalangu said the automation was critical to funding education, healthcare and infrastructure development across AMAC’s 12 wards.
“This system must work, and it will work. We are determined to build a transparent, accountable revenue system and leave a lasting legacy for our people,” he said.
He called on residents and business owners to support the initiative, assuring them of a seamless payment process and improved accountability from 2026.