Since the event of the devaluation of the naira in the northern region, the activities of collecting customs revenue have dropped drastically. In Durbeye’s mobile customs stations and Guider, everything is slowing down.
Business activities are declining.
“Several difficulties lead to drastic falls in customs revenues at the mobile customs station in Durbeye. We had first of all the devaluation of the Naira. There is a lack of culture of taxation by some economic operators. With the Halcomi operation, some operators have abandoned their business. “The previsions that were 475,000,000 CFA for the first quarter of 2017 have not been achieved. A recipe of 196,000,000 CFA francs has been covered ” said Tido Raymond, Head of Verification and Liquidation at the Durbeye Customs Mobile Station.
In Guider’s mobile office, the same difficulties are not encountered.
“In total one has the traffic of 1000 registered motorcycles per year. Foreign currency traffic is perceptible, in particular with the circulation of cash by certain economic operators or traders. Prohibited products are drugs, we had as another product of smuggling tramol, sugar, Dangote cement.” Explains Mba Nto’o Joan, mobile brigade head of customs at Guider.
In Gaschiga, this mobile station is free from difficulties despite the current difficult context. There are up to 40 to 45 large carriers moving from Cameroon to Chad and from Cameroon to Nigeria. With a forecast of 470,000,000 CFA francs the amount of 427,000,750 CFA F were collected for a percentage of 91%, the double of the year 2016 with a gap of 241,000,000 FCFA. With its computerized pilot site, Gaschiga is in relation with Nigeria.
“The recurring products we register are prohibited products as non-biodegradable plastics, psychotropics substances, sugar and cement ” Reports Hadidja, wife of Youssouffa, head of the customs post at Gaschiga’s main office.
The economic environment is therefore far from being conducive to revenue in all northern customs offices. If some stand out because they are not reached by the devaluation of the Naira, others bring considerable revenue to the treasury of the North. Thus, only the end of the financial crisis will mean the end of difficulties for costum activity in the North region.
