Chief of Bota Customs Brigade, Nguena Yobol, perusing through documents
By Francis Tim Mbom
The Southwest Customs Sector ended 2024 on a high note, having raised approximately FCFA 49 billion in state revenue. When the press met with the Chief of Sector for the Region, Nyamsi Mungue Daniel, before the close of December 2024, he expressed satisfaction and thanked his hierarchy in Yaounde for their support throughout the year.
According to the balance sheet as of 16 December 2024, the total customs revenue collected from all units across the Region had reached FCFA 46.511 billion. This figure represents a significant increase compared to the FCFA 43.604 billion raised in 2023. Consequently, the SW Sector increased its total revenue in 2024 by FCFA 2.907 billion as of 16 December 2024.
A Look Back At The Sector’s Progress
Over the past five years, the Southwest Customs Sector has witnessed remarkable growth. In 2020, the Sector raised a modest FCFA 2.838 billion. However, with the implementation of new strategies by the new Chief of Sector, Mungue Nyamsi Daniel, revenue jumped to FCFA 41.762 billion in 2022. This upward trend continued in 2023, with the Sector raising FCFA 43.604 billion. As of 31 December 2024, the Sector had realized approximately FCFA 49 billion.
This impressive record was acknowledged by the Minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motaze, during his recent visit. The effective implementation of fiscal strategies by the Government across the Sector, led by its Chief and collaborators, contributed to this success.
The press visited principal Customs Units in Tiko, Bota, and Idenau, where officials reported impressive revenue collections for 2024. For instance, the Tiko Unit Head, Asah Stanley, noted that the Unit raised FCFA 1 billion, 757 million in October 2024, surpassing the FCFA 1 billion, 725 million collected in 2023.
“As you have just said, the performance for the Tiko Customs Unit for the year 2024 up to date can be said to be better than what we did in the year 2023,” Asah stated. “For example, for the month of February, our target was FCFA 90 million. We were able to raise FCFA 118 million. For the month of March, our target was 120 million. We were able to raise FCFA 133 million.”
Asah attributed the Unit’s success to the guidance and instructions received from their hierarchy. “First of all, we have always made sure that all the goods that come through the Tiko Ports are effectively declared, the Customs duties charged are paid, and the money effectively collected and paid into the Government treasury.”
Similarly, Idenau reported a significant increase in revenue, with FCFA 2.388 billion collected as of 16 December 2024, up from FCFA 1.636 billion in 2023.
Lantang Franklin Yuven, Customs Inspector at the Idenau Customs Unit, noted, “If you look at the revenue per se, you will notice that the revenue has increased quite a lot from our performance of last year. Last year, around November, we were about just a billion. But this year, around November, as we speak, we are already around FCFA 2 billion.”
The Chief of the Customs Commercial Brigade for Idenau, Boukar, added, “There has been an increase in our activities just by comparing the number of trucks that were loaded with imported goods in 2023 and taken out of this Port. The total number of trucks loaded in 2023 stood at 2588, whereas so far in 2024, we have already surpassed the above number. As at today, November 21, 2024, we have already registered a total of 2685. This shows that the activities have increased.”
The Bota Customs Unit also reported impressive revenue collections for 2024. According to the Chief of Brigade, Nguena Yobol, the successful fight against contraband goods in the SW Region by the Customs has contributed sign.