During the celebration of the 64th edition of the World Customs Day, the Minister of Finance Louis Paul Motaze brought a congratulatory message from the Head of State Paul Biya to the Director General of Customs Fongod Edwin Nuvaga and staff for recovering more than the target last year.
Presiding at the ceremony that brought together members of government, diplomatic officials, partners and customs staff, Minister Louis Paul Motaze said he felt honoured to deliver a congratulatory message from the Head of State, President Paul Biya, to the Customs and other fiscal administrations for their superlative performance in 2021 as far as revenue collection is concerned. “The Head of State has congratulated our collaborators of the Customs Department and other fiscal departments,” the minister said. Adding that: “This is the main reason which brought me here today to let them know that what they are doing on a daily basis is very good job”. “The Head of State had said it during his end-of-year speech and I am congratulating them again and they should go forward,” he added.
The Customs was tasked to collect FCFA 804,7 billion in 2021, and the sector raked in FCFA 851,0 billion. That is a realisation rate of 105.8% and surplus of FCFA 46,3 billion. In 2020, the Customs sector under the aegis of Fongod Edwin did well. FCFA 707, 8 billion was collected in 2020 representing a jump of 20.2% worth FCFA 143,2 billion.
The Littoral I (71.9%), South II (17.2%) and Littoral II (7.4%) Customs Sector were the top collectors that year. This year the state budget has galloped and Minister Motaze says more revenue is expected from the customs department. “In 2022, the challenge will be even greater because, as you know, the State budget is 5,752.4 billion FCFA in 2022 against 5,480,4 billion FCFA in 2021”. Minister Motaze also praised the Directorate General of Customs, and Taxation for accelerating the digital transformation of their services and procedures that has driven up revenue.
Keeping Cameroonians Safe
Besides the collection of revenue, Customs have to foster security and fight illicit trade. Minister Motaze saluted their effort in this domain. “I salute the great achievements of Cameroon Customs in the fight against illicit trade, trafficking and new forms of security threats. Through your brave acts, the economy is better off,” the minister said as he addressed participants on World Customs Day in Yaounde.
On that day over a hundred customs, officers were awarded certificates from the World Trade Organisation for their outstanding output in carrying out their duties. Meanwhile, several customs officers got epaulettes. The 64th edition of the day was commemorated under the theme “Scaling up customs digital transformation by embracing a data culture and building a data ecosystem”.
Jude VIBAN
