…rewards diligent officers, other stakeholders
Following his promotion to Acting Assistant Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Yusuf Malanta has handed over reigns of the Apapa Command to Comptroller Auwal Mohammed.
At the hand-over ceremony which held in Apapa today, the out-going Area Controller, Malanta encouraged officers at the Command to avail his successor the same level of support he received as helmsman at the Apapa Command.
Malanta described his successor, Comptroller Mohammed as an exemplary Customs officer nick-named ‘Due Diligence’ for his top-notch professionalism in Customs processes.
Noting that his tenure as Area Controller was an enjoyable one with robust support from his officers, port stakeholders and other sister agencies, Malanta prayed that his successor would have similar testimonies to share about the Command during his tenure.
“Apapa is my home and will always remain my home. I have friends among the officers and stakeholders, especially the press. I have known some of these friends for more that 15 years. I appreciate the intelligence reports and guidance that you availed me over the years and I want you to give it to my successor,” Malanta said.
On his part, the newly appointed Area Controller, Comptroller Auwal Mohammed stated that his first assignment will be ensure he sustains the revenue drive and other laudable activities at the Command.
His words: “My first assignment will be to make sure that I sustain the tempo at the Command and strive to introduce due process. This due process means we have to do our work dutifully and with regard for professionalism.”
While acknowledging that replacing Comptroller Malanta at Apapa is a huge feat, he posited that he is prepared for the huge onus of leading the nation’s busiest port.
“I’m appealing to you not to relent on your efforts and I’m also appealing to you to grant me the same support you granted my predecessor and the sky will not be our limit, but our starting point,” he remarked.
The new Area Controller also encouraged port users to stick to proper declaration in order to ensure trade facilitation at the Command.
As part of efforts to reward exemplary conduct, Comptroller Malanta also gave out awards to several officers at the Apapa Command who had distinguished and aided high-profile seizures and enhanced revenue collection at the Command.
“The Service is rewarding those who have played a good role in ensuring that the Customs system is enhanced and compliance is strictly adhered to. However, the fact that your name isn’t called doesn’t mean that your work isn’t recognized. You should continue to blow your trumpets by yourself with exemplary conduct and professionalism,” Malanta said.
He noted that most of the recommendations for the officers rewarded came from the terminals where they were posted to work as he didn’t know some of these officers personally but their work distinguished them for recognition.
The awards were also extended to excellent officers of other sister agencies as officials from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) got awards.
The out-going Area Controller, Malanta moves to the Customs headquarters in Abuja as the Acting ACG in-charge of ICT/ Modernization.
