Late DCG Umar Sanusi

The Area Controller of the Seme Border Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni, has expressed a deep sense of grief over the recent demise of the retired Deputy Comptroller General of the service, DCG Umar Sanusi.

Comptroller Dera Nadi Mni

The news of the death of DCG Umar Sanusi had broken out in the early hours of Sunday, March 26, 2023. He reportedly died after a brief illness at a private hospital in Abuja and had been buried according to Islamic rites.

Speaking on the sudden death of the late Customs boss, Comptroller Nnadi, who could not control his emotions while delivering a tribute, expressed a deep sense of grief over the death of Sanusi, whom he said was one of the Senior officers he admired and revered for their high sense of professionalism and dedication to duty.

While reminiscing on his several encounters with the deceased DCG, Comptroller Nnadi disclosed that the late Sanusi left a looming image of a fine, diligent, compassionate, thorough, and core professional senior officer of the service, who was equally humane, humble, and highly detribalised.

These attributes, according to the Comptroller, endeared him to the late DCG, who he also confessed, left a huge positive impression on him as a younger officer.

“It is with a heavy heart that I received the news of the death of DCG Umar Sanusi rtd.  A gentleman- officer to the core and an erudite Nigerian. My first encounter with the senior officer was in 2003 or so at the Comptroller General of Customs CGC Conference in Calabar, Cross River State, where, as an Assistant Comptroller of Customs, he presented a report as the APM of Apapa Command.

“It was not common then to present papers and reports on 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 the operations of the service at Apapa Command and highlighted them in writing during his presentation. This was visibly shocking to the entire audience as it was rare then for officers to admit that their acts were not optimal while discharging their duties,

“Some attempts by the moderator to stop him was rebuffed by a lone voice. One man and indeed the then Comptroller General of the service, and current Gbon Gwom Jos, Da Elder Jacob Gyang Buba was the voice and he overruled everybody and urged him to continue and to even say more if he has the facts.

“He gave him more time than the allotted 30 minutes allotted to him. If pin dropped, the sound would have been heard because of the silence. The then AC Sanusi earned a place in the service after that encounter. He also earned my 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 Nigeria Customs Service-Nigerian Ports Authority port reforms, which was concluded in 2006. The then AC Sanusi was the APM and I was the Public Relations Officer of the Command.

“The NCS reforms included migration from the basic Automated System for Customs Data ASYCUDA 2.7 to ASYCUDA 3.0, the use of the precursor of Pre-Arrival Assessment Report PAAR, to 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.

“On the other hand and going on simultaneously was the port concession which saw NPA handing over to private sector operators 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.

“Yet another remarkable encounter with late DCG Sanusi was at the NCS headquarters when he was appointed Assistant Comptroller General in charge of 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 of course, 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 apologise and request that you work closely with me. As ACG headquarters, 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 respect and admired him. He said I should 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 death is a personal loss to me. “Farewell DCG Umar Sanusi. NCS and indeed Nigeria lost a gem”, Nnadi sobbed.

 Recall that the deceased Sanusi, who retired in 2019 as DCG, Human Resources Department, was earlier appointed Assistant Comptroller General Customs ACG, Headquarters by Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), in 2015 before he was promoted to DCG in 2018.

Public Relations Officer, Ports and Multi Services Limited PTML Command of the Service, S.C Yakubu Muhammed, who announced his death said: “With heavy heart, I wish notify us of the demise of DCG A.U Sanusi (Rtd).

“He passed on about an hour ago at a private hospital in Abuja. The Janaza prayers will hold after the Zuhr prayers (1 pm) at the National Mosque, Abuja In Shaa Allah.”