Customs pledges continuous digitisation

With an estimated state budget of FCFA 4,234.7 billion for the year 2016, the government expects the Customs Department to raise FCFA 750 billion this year as against FCFA 693 billion in 2015.

In order to realise the FCFA 57 billion increment this year, the customs administration, observers say, has to step up quality services, especially enhancement of digitisation.

It is in this light that the Minister of Finance, Alamine Ousmane Mey, challenged the Customs administration to redouble revenue collection efforts this year.

The Finance Minister was speaking at the Yaounde 101 military airbase in Mvan last Tuesday 26 January 2016 while presiding over commemorative activities to mark the 64th International Customs Day under the theme, “Digital Customs: Progressive Engagement.”

He said the need to pursue the modernisation of the administration was primary, with customs officials expected to simplify procedures for business persons and all stakeholders of the sector.

“This has been an instruction form the Head of State and we are proud to see that our customs administration has already made some major achievements in that respect,” Alamine Ousmane Mey said.

Despite the already visible achievements, the minister cautioned the customs administration not to go to slumber for it still needs to improve on its service delivery, urging the customs administration to take advantage of the Information and Communication Technologies era to digitise, modernise and materialise the sector.

“But we are very confident that we will meet the target given the dedication and commitment of the customs administration. We have the right people, the right team and the determination to be up to the task for better quality services in our administration,” he said.

This, the finance minister said it will be done in line with the goal of becoming an emerging country by the year 2035.

“We at the Ministry of Finance are as a global team; a family determined to play our role to be part of this successful journey towards the development of our country,” the Minister promised.

Evolution Of ICTs In Customs

Speaking earlier, the Director General of Customs, Fongod Edwin Nuvaga, highlighted the evolution and benefits of digitisation to the customs sector.
The Automated System of Customs Data, ASYCUDA++, which was launched in 2005 with the use of scanners at the Douala Seaport for an overview of the content of containers, was a major innovation that, amongst other things, ensured fluidity of commercial traffic by reducing bottlenecks, the Customs boss said.

However, in a bid to further dematerialise procedures, sustain and consolidate gains, a set of decision-making support tools was developed around the system; including the creation of an interactive website in 2007.

The operationalisation of the Nexus+ Cameroon Customs GPS Project to trace the movement of goods and services within and without the country launched in 2009 and the electronic payment of custom duties and taxes were amongst the novelties the Customs boss rejoiced have been produced spinoffs.

Fongod Edwin Nuvaga promised that the customs department will continue to embrace ICTs as recommended by hierarchy in order to improve service delivery and contribute to the economic drive of the country.

Other highlights of the event included award of epaulets of different categories to some 1500 customs officers who completed training and were officially joining the corps.

Amongst those who received epaulets were some 500 graduates from the Advanced School of Administration and Magistracy, ENAM, and some 1, 000 other Cameroonians who were recently recruited into the corps.

Ekok Customs Bureau Honoured

For the past five years, the Ekok customs bureau in the Manyu division of the South West region has moved the annual revenue performance from FCFA 160 million to FCFA 1.4 Billion. Just last year (2015), the border customs bureau achieved a 206 percent revenue collection.

This performance placed the border customs bureau top amongst customs posts that recorded the highest customs revenue recovery rate in the country in 2015.
According to the Chief of Customs bureau of Ekok, Sophrey Hamilton, the performance is thanks to teamwork.

“I have a team that has been dedicated to mobilising revenue and we are reaping the fruits of this hard work,” the elated customs officer told Eden in Yaounde after receiving honour from the International Customs Organisation.

The Ekok customs bureau boss said the recognition given them will act as a booster to him and the personnel of the Nigerian border customs post.
“It is a mark of encouragement, I am not going to sleep on this award, I look forward to doing even better than previous years,” Sophrey Hamilton pledged.