Under the sign of unity and performance

Saint Mathieu could not be better honored than his disciples. From Monday 18 to Thursday 21 September 2017, the Benin Customs Administration celebrated its patron saint in accordance with tradition. Communications, reflections and sharing sessions, sports activities punctuated the four days during which Benin Customs took a break in their daily lives in order to relax for the challenges ahead.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the organizing committee, Commander of Customs Shegun Ibrahim Gado, recalled the importance of this annual celebration. He congratulated his colleagues on their daily struggle to increase the state's revenue. He particularly thanked the Director General of Customs and Indirect Rights, Charles Inousa SACCA BOCO for having sufficiently associated economic operators with the celebration. This contributes, he said, to the strengthening of the public-private partnership, ensuring a real and genuine emergence of customs administrations (Pillar 2 of the SAFE Standards Framework).

In the course of the chronogram of activities, a great Mass of thanksgiving was celebrated by the parish priest of the Saint Michel Catholic Church in Cotonou on Thursday, September 21, 2017. The day before, it was Muslim worship; opportunity for everyone to renew their obligation and commitment to serve the Republic.

Among other things, Customs officers were given sports activities, exchange and sharing sessions on customs reforms, an opportunity to regain awareness of the new challenges facing the New Departure era.

The performance component of this edition has been the award of many awards.

The solemn moment of this year's festivities was the official reception by the Benin Customs of the Iso Certificate 9001 version 2008Awarded by the international firm DEKRA, the result of several years of sacrifices imposed by the Quality Management System.

In addition, some transit companies (Bolloré, Atral, and Aridjèmagbagbé-Orè) and some economic operators (AROUN INTER, SONAM SA, AJECO) have been distinguished for their strong involvement in achieving the objectives assigned to the Benin Customs Administration.

The merits of certain customs units have been recognized and letters of recognition given to certain heads of unit and exemplary agents.

Following the table of complaints presented by the Benin Customs Union (SYDOB), the Director General of Customs and Indirect Rights, Charles I. SACCA BOCO announced that instructions had been given by the Minister of Economy and Finance, so that all bonuses of agents would be paid in the coming days. He also urged colleagues to ensure that ISO certification, along with letters of recognition of merit, is an additional motivation for greater productivity in their respective units.

The festivities of the 2017 edition of the patronal feast of Saint Mathieu's disciples, if it should be recalled, were entirely funded by Beninese economic operators. They culminated in a great recreational evening which saw the presence of the Authorities of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Members of the Cabinet, the High Military Command, the Generals of the Administration of Beninese Customs, the former Directors General of Benin Customs, and a strong Nigerian customs delegation.

The Communications Unit.