Abuja Council Declares War On Revenue Racketeers

In a sweeping reform aimed at ending decades of revenue leakage, the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has banned all cash payments and manually issued receipts from January 1, 2026, migrating all collections to an automated single treasury account.

The AMAC chairman, Christopher Maikalangu, announced the policy yesterday in a press briefing, calling it a decisive strike against corruption and inefficiency that has deprived the council of vital funds.

“For too long, our revenue system has been undermined by manual processes that created loopholes. By the grace of God, that era ends today,” Maikalangu said.

Under the new framework, every payment due to the council from business levies to property fees must be made exclusively through the official AMAC Smart Tax platform (amactax.ng/payment).

According to the chairman, all funds will flow directly into a central single account, eliminating middlemen and unofficial collections.

“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,” he said.

He said that to enforce compliance, a Special Tribunal Monitoring Task Force will be inaugurated in early 2026, supported by environmental cadets and enforcement officers, the team will patrol business districts and communities across AMAC’s 12 wards.

“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.

He explained that taxpayers will use the amacsmarttax.ng portal via mobile app or web browser to make payments and generate instant 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.

Despite generating over ₦5 billion between January and now, Maikalangu said revenue remains far below potential, given AMAC’s coverage of high-value zones such as Maitama, Asokoro, Gwarinpa, Nyanya, and the Abuja airport corridor.

“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 stated.

The chairman revealed that while some revenue racketeers have been prosecuted previously, enforcement will now be stricter, with mobile courts empowered to seal non-compliant businesses.

“Any hotel or business that refuses to comply will be taken to court or sealed. We will also expose defaulters publicly,” he added.

Maikalangu further said that a concession has been made for market traders without smartphones, who may pay directly into AMAC’s designated Zenith Bank account, urging residents to ignore 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.

“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 for public cooperation, promising a seamless payment process and greater accountability from 2026 onward.