Motorists are currently compiling documents in odrer to catch up with the March 1, 2014 date for compliance.

Those with the non-computerised driving licence in Cameroon are currently doing all that it takes to obtain the electronic driving licence. The operation to convert paper driver's licences to the computerised type launched by the Minister of Transport last September 1, 2013 is drawing to its end.

As such, those who are still using the paper driving licence are currently thronging central, regional and divisional delegations with documents required for them to obtain the computerised driving licence. On Friday January 24, most of the visitors seen at the Ministry of Transport come to drop their documents for the computerised driver's licence. The department at the central service of the Ministry of Transport charged with facilitating the transition from paper to electronic driver licence is the Division of Road Transport, precisely the service in charge of circulation licence.

The Chief of Service concern, Mrs Evina Mveng was on sit receiving and cross checking files as they come in. Since the operation was launched last year, she said car owners have been responding to the call. "As the deadline draws closer the department can receive at least 100 requests per day", Evina Mveng said. The number, she added, even doubles when salaries are out.

When Cameroon Tribune met with some Yaounde city dwellers over the weekend, most are aware of the change but seemed to have forgotten the required documents needed for the operation. Mrs Evina Mveng said aspirants need to come along with the paper licence, a photocopy of the National Identity Card, a medical certificate, two coloured pictures with a white background and a stamped application worth FCFA 7,000 which contains the date you obtained your driver's licence.

When this is deposited and validated, Mrs Evina Mveng said the conversion process begins and lasts at least one week. That which delays the process is when the paper driving licence is not found in the ministry's database. This is common with driving licences that were produced before the 1980's. For such cases, Mrs Mveng explained that such people are requested to establish a "written statement", which is later forwarded to a committee for examination before a computerised driving licence is given to them.

With such delays, it could take two weeks to change a paper licence to a computerised licence. It is also noted that people with paper driving licence and who are above 60 years of age are established a computerised licence which is renewable after one year.

While many people complain that they do not have time to carry out the exercise, personnel at the Ministry of Transport are already doing a proximity campaign to help people meet the March 1 deadline. From time to time they go to different administrative offices to collect the files of individuals, but it is also important to personally drop the files because there is a form which requires only the aspirant's signature.