By Onyeanya Immaculata
The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), has announced a complete ban on cash payments and manually issued receipts for revenue collection, effective January 1, 2026, as it migrates to a fully automated digital platform.
AMAC Chairman, Christopher Maikalangu, disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing in Abuja, describing the move as part of efforts to curb corruption, block revenue leakages and improve efficiency.
Under the new policy, all payments to the council, including business levies, property rates and other statutory fees must be made through the AMAC Smart Tax platform, with funds routed directly into a single treasury 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,” Maikalangu said, urging residents to report any demand for cash or payments into private accounts.
He explained that taxpayers can make payments via the Smart Tax portal using mobile devices or web browsers and instantly generate electronic receipts, warning that any account outside the platform is fraudulent.
To enforce compliance, the chairman said a Special Tribunal Monitoring Task Force will be inaugurated in early 2026, supported by enforcement officers across AMAC’s 12 wards. Offenders, he warned, will be apprehended and prosecuted.
Maikalangu noted that despite generating over ₦5 billion in revenue since January, AMAC’s earnings remain below potential, given its coverage of high-value areas such as Maitama, Asokoro, Gwarinpa, Nyanya and the airport corridor.
He added that special arrangements have been made for market traders without smartphones to pay directly into a designated Zenith Bank account and advised residents to disregard demand notices issued before 2026, assuring greater transparency under the new system.
