Following the demise of a former Deputy Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), DCG Umar Sanusi, the Area Controller of Seme Border Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni, has outlined Sanusi’s leadership strides which shaped his career for excellence as a younger officer.
Sanusi, who retired in 2019 as DCG, Human Resources Department died after a brief illness in the early hours of Sunday, 26th March, 2023. He was earlier appointed Assistant Comptroller General Customs (ACG), Headquarters by the Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), in 2015 before he was promoted to DCG in 2018.
Although Sanusi was buried according to Islamic rites on Sunday after Muslim prayer on his body in the Abuja Central Mosque, there are several leadership nuggets from Sanusi’s service in Customs as enumerated by Comptroller Nnadi.
Nnadi, in a report titled, “Tribute to An Erudite Officer and Gentlemen: DCG (Rtd) Umar Sanusi mni” recalled his first encounter with the senior officer in 2003 at the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) conference in Calabar, Cross River State.
Nnadi’s words: “As an Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Late Sanusi presented a report as the APM Apapa Command. It was not common then to present papers and reports in PowerPoint, but he did. This was not the only remarkable thing he did at the conference.”
“The then AC Sanusi was detailed in his report, which was a departure from what others presented. He was factual and honest and admitted it where things were wrong in NCS operations at Apapa Command and highlighted them in writing during his presentation.”
“This was shocking to the entire audience as it was rare for one to admit that his act while discharging his duties were not optimal. Some attempts by the moderator to stop him was rebuffed by a lone voice and indeed the boss. The then CGC, now Gbon Gwom Jos Da Elder Jacob Gyang Buba, overruled everybody and urged him to continue and to even say more if he had facts. He gave him more time than the allotted 30 minutes. There was pin drop silence at the end”
Nnadi posited that after that presentation AC Sanusi earned a place in the Service and also earned his admiration as a young Deputy Superintendent of Customs.
“Our path was to cross again when I was posted to Apapa prior to the commencement of the second phase of the NCS and NPA port reforms, which coincided in 2006. AC Sanusi was the APM and I was PRO of the Command.”
“The NCS reforms included migration from basic ASYCUDA to ASYCUDA 2.0, the use of the precursor to PAAR called Risk Assessment Report (RAR), the introduction of e- Payment regime and the introduction of Non Intrusive Cargo examination- Scanners; all with Apapa Port as the pilot Command. Going on simultaneously, was the port concession which saw NPA handing over to private sector owners of the port facilities.”
“The challenges then were enormous, but we survived all through DCG Sanusi’s diligence with the then Comptroller Rasheed Owolabi Taiwo. It was a milestone for me and indeed for the senior officer then AC Sanusi. I learnt a lot from him,” Nnadi said.
While earlier lessons from Sanusi’s conduct bordered on his intellect and bravery, his humility and team-bonding attributes were captured in another remarkable encounter with Nnadi at the NCS headquarters after he was appointed ACG Headquarters.
“I had gone to greet him and pay homage when he did the “unthinkable” at least in my little understanding of life then. After taking my compliments, he offered me a seat and ofcourse I refused to seat in his presence as an Assistant Comptroller out of courtesy.”
“He said Nnadi, I have observed that we are not close anymore and I think this is an opportunity for me to address it. I was shocked and said it wasn’t so. What he said next shocked me. He said “I know I offended you but I want to use this opportunity to apologize and request that you work closely with me. As ACG HQ I will need you around me since you are in SR&P”.
“I responded that I did not know that he offended me being his junior who respected and admired him. He said never mind. He offered me a gift, stepped out, shook my hands and gave me a hug. I left his office confused, overwhelmed with emotions and thereafter held him in greater esteem and awe. His loss is a personal one to me.” Nnadi concluded.
As one reflects on some of these actions and attributes of Late Sanusi, one of Nelson Mandela’s quote about public service aptly captures the lessons.
“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead” – Nelson Mandela.
Farewell DCG Umar Sanusi, mni, fsi. NCS and indeed Nigeria lost a gem.