It was encomium galore penultimate week, at Abuja, when the man reputed for generating the first one trillion naira for the Federal Government in one year from just a Customs Command, bows out of the Service in grand style
By Innocent Chukwu
No argument: Comptroller Yusuf Malanta remains a household name in the 21st-century Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) even after retirement. The facts to support this assertion are not far-fetched. His mind-blowing sojourn and profile in the service of his fatherland through the NCS will remain indelible in the history of the Service. This informed the reason why a Federal Government delegation, prominent politicians, captains of industry, foreign diplomats, retired and serving management officers of the NCS, as well as friends and well-wishers gathered at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja to celebrate the rare gem of Nigeria’s public service.
The event was the retirement dinner of Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) of Customs, Malanta, who retired from the Service late May 2024. The dinner took place on Saturday, June 1, 2024, and it was a gathering of the high and mighty in shipping and freight forwarding industry. The retired Malanta carved out his name in gold when in December 2022, at the closing of business that year, the Apapa Area 1 Customs Command where he served as the Area Controller (CAC), announced that it achieved a record breaking revenue generation of over N1 trillion between January and December of the year 2022.
That was the very first time in the history of the NCS when a single Command of the NCS would generate such a huge sum into the Federation Account. Remarkably, Malanta raised the Apapa Premier Port revenue generation from N600 million in 2021 when he was appointed the CAC of the Command, to as high as the humongous one trillion naira in 2022.
The record revenue generation attracted the attention of the Federal Government under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari who promptly directed the Customs management at the time to honour him with a letter of commendation. Since then, ACG Malanta (retd) has always been referred to as the leader with a Midas touch. He also received the honour and award of the best Customs Area Controller of the century from various groups and organisations who were amazed at how Malanta was able to perform such magic in a highly volatile business environment.
Malanta’s magic wand as the CAC of Apapa Area Command included, and not limited to, the creation of a Compliance and Help Desk that facilitated fast cargo clearing processes at the Command never known in the history of the NCS. Malanta leadership at the Apapa Port Customs Command also ensured that no revenue leakages were tolerated because having served earlier as the Deputy Comptroller (DC) Revenue of the Command, he understood how best to harness the hidden revenues that might have escaped the Command.
Retired ACG Malanta has often been referred to as the “Nigeria Customs Service Engine Room”. This reference is not unconnected with his enviable contributions to the development of the NCS Information and Communication Technology (ICT) of the Nigeria Customs which brought about the ICT modernisation and near paperless operations in the NCS of the millennium. Malanta is a Customs ICT guru and one of the brightest ICT experts the Service ever groomed in its history.
As an uncommon leader, Malanta raised a group of revenue, ICT and anti-smuggling followers among upcoming officers who are ready and willing to stake their lives for their revered mentor. A mentor per excellence, these young, bright and highly knowledgeable officers said Malanta, is first among equals. Their unalloyed loyalty to the man of honour, Malanta, was in exhibition at the Ladi Kwali Hall of the Abuja Continental Hotel, the venue of the dinner where their goodwill messages were displayed on screens for the audience’s perusal. Many at the event said they had never witnessed a retired customs management officer being honoured in such a manner. Hence, the doyen of the NCS revenue generation and ICT, Malanta appeared overwhelmed by accolades from ministers in attendance, his mentees, and could only say, “I’m fulfilled”. He said, “I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude, pride and a nostalgia”.
At the dinner in honour of retired ACG Malanta, roll call of dignitaries who graced the occasion included two serving federal ministers, precisely the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, as well as the Minister of State (MoS) for Agriculture, Senator Sahabi Aliyu.
Other dignitaries who graced the colourful dinner were retired DCGs Abba Kura, Julius Nwagwu, Saidu Galadima among others. There were also retired ACGs Bashir Abubarkar, Charles Edike, ACG Bash among numerous other DCGs, ACGs, Comptrollers and Deputy Comptrollers of Customs both Serving and retired.
In his keynote address, the Minister of Steel Development, Ahmadu who said ACG Malanta is his bossom friend, praised him for his doggedness, knowledge of the customs operations inside out, as well as his astuteness in leadership which enabled him to pass his wealth of knowledge and experience to the younger officers. Ahmadu noted that Malanta has only retired from the NCS, but not tired in his patriotic contributions to the wellbeing of the country. Ahmadu believes that in the near future, Malanta would still be searched out for higher callings.
Senator Aliyu, the MoS for Agriculture, said Malanta is a rare gift to his generation and the country. He congratulated the retired ACG for his 34 years of meritorious service rendered patriotically to the country without blemish. Senator Aliyu enjoined young and upcoming customs officers to emulate the sound leadership qualities they saw in Malanta which will help them become the future leaders of the service.
Retired DCG Nwagwu said it is the desire of every officer to complete their service to the nation and have friends from all walks of life gather to celebrate them at retirement. He said as a young officer, Malanta was highly knowledgeable, sound, loyal and hard working, hence he did not find it difficult to get to the very zenith of the job.
Edike, a retired ACG said when Malanta served under him as the DC Revenue at Apapa Area 1 Command, while himself (Edike) was the Customs Area Controller of the Command, he saw in Malanta one of the best hands any CAC could work with. According to Edike, Malanta is trustworthy, loyal and hard working.
Earlier on, Comptroller Timi Bomodi, the CAC of Seme Border who gave the welcome address, said the day was a day to celebrate an accomplished senior customs officer, Malanta. Bomodi told the audience that Malanta is a very special person, hence he told the audience to sit back and enjoy all the enriching packages of the celebration as according to him, it was a day to rejoice and be happy.
The ACG Malanta’s (retd) citation was delivered to the hilarious audience by Femi Adeoye, a senior broadcaster of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) fame. The citation revealed that Malanta is an academic, an ICT expert of renown, a revenue mobilizer, trade facilitator, as well as an anti -smuggling czar of the NCS during his years of service.
According to Adeoye, “This profile portrays the professional journey and accomplishments of Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Yusuf Malanta Ibrahim of the Nigeria Customs Service.
“Born in 1964, ACG Ibrahim Yusuf Malanta joined the Nigeria Customs Service in 1990 and has since accumulated 34 years of work experience within the service. Throughout his career, he held various positions across different formations, showcasing his versatility and expertise. Notably, he served as the ACG in charge of the ICT Modernization Unit and, prior to his role as ACG of Customs Training and Coordination, he was the Customs Area Controller in charge of Apapa Port.
“During his tenure at Apapa Port, ACG Ibrahim Yusuf Malanta played a crucial role in combating smuggling activities and preventing the entry of prohibited items into the country. He achieved this by implementing the Forensic Manifest Management System, identifying revenue leakages through the Automated System Profiling of Cargo, resulting in the realization of 1.022 trillion naira in revenue for the federal government. This marked the highest revenue ever collected by a command in the history of the Nigeria Customs Service at that time.
“Ibrahim Yusuf Malanta also held the position of Controller Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) Ruling Centre and was one of the pioneering members of the ICT unit within the Nigeria Customs Service. His vast experience in the field is further evidenced by his involvement in different system migrations, such as the migration from ASYCUDA 2.7, 3.0, and ASYCUDA Plus Plus. He headed the implementation team responsible for migrating ASYCUDA Plus Plus to the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System Two Application.
“Moreover, Ibrahim Yusuf Malanta possesses extensive knowledge of import/export procedures, revenue collection, ICT modernization, and expertise in the trade supply chain. To further enhance his skills, he has attended multiple courses, both nationally and internationally, covering topics such as leadership skills, ethics and accountability, advanced management, and executive management training.
“Academically, Ibrahim holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Maiduguri (1984-1988) and a Master’s in Business Administration from Bayero University Kano (1998-1999).
“Some of the awards he received for his accomplishments include the World Customs Organization (WCO) Certificate of Merit for the year 2022, Comptroller General of Customs Letter of Commendation for the recovery of over 6 billion naira revenue lost, Comptroller General of Customs Letter of Commendation on interagency collaboration, Nigeria Ports Authority Letter of Commendation for synergy among government agencies at the ports, and letters of commendation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), among others.
“Overall, Ibrahim’s profile sheds light on his remarkable career accomplishments within the Nigeria Customs Service, his dedication to combating smuggling activities, his commitment to ICT modernization, and his efforts towards achieving a paperless customs system in alignment with the World Customs Organization’s framework of standards.
“Ibrahim Yusuf Malanta is happily married and has children, indicating a balanced personal life alongside his professional achievements.”
In his welcome address, ACG Malanta (retd) said his 34 years in service of his fatherland through the NCS were incredible and rewarding. He noted that he was full of appreciation for the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi whom he said both of them started the customs job together 34 years ago. Malanta thanked both the groups and individuals who helped him in one way or the other to get to the peak of the job.
Malanta said, “As I stand here before you today, reflecting on an incredible journey of 34 years, I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude, pride and a hint of nostalgia. Your presence at this retirement event fills me with immense appreciation; your attendance transforms this milestone into a truly unforgettable moment. Words alone cannot capture the depth of my emotions or adequately convey my gratitude to you. So, I simply extend my appreciation to you all for gracing this occasion with your presence, your kind words, and warm wishes. Thank you very much.
“I would like to seize this moment to express my profound appreciation to the CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR for his support and blessing. We started this journey together 34 years ago, and since then, he has been a friend and a brother. I am particularly grateful for your leadership, vision and unwavering commitment to excellence. You have proved that the customs service belongs to a professional customs officer. I have always admired your ability to lead with strength and passion. Your dedication to fostering a positive and productive environment has made a significant difference between where we were and where we are today. Please continue with the remarkable work you have initiated.
“To my esteemed senior colleagues whom I was opportune to work with directly and indirectly, I am proud of what we have achieved together. You have taught me the true meaning of teamwork and resilience. Thank you for your guidance and trust, your vision, and encouragement has been the foundation of my professional journey.
“It was a privilege to work with some of the brightest mind sin the history of the Nigerian Customs Service. Your mentorship has shaped me into knowing who I am today. Thank you.
“To my colleagues, I sincerely thank you for your collaboration and making everyday a learning experience, you have inspired me with your creativity and dedication. Together, we have built a formidable team that has earned us many commendations by continuing to strike a balance between trade facilitation and revenue generation. Our collective efforts led us to achieve a historic revenue milestone of N1.2 trillion, the highest revenue generated by a command in the history of the Nigerian Customs Service as at that time.
“To my junior colleagues, who represent the future of the service, I extend my heartfelt pride and encouragement. I was opportune to work and groom the finest officers in the NCS. As I have always told you, remember that everyday is a new opportunity to learn and grow. Embrace every challenge with a positive mindset and never be afraid to ask questions when necessary. Try to build good relationships, network, and never stop striving for excellence. Your energy and fresh perspective are your driving force in this noble organization. I have every confidence in your ability, skills and knowledge. Therefore, I encourage you to adopt empathy and integrity as your guiding principle. I look forward to staying in touch and seeing all the great things you will continue to achieve in your career. I wish you good blessings and guidance always.
“To our amiable stakeholders and other government agencies, I would like to extend my deepest appreciation for the incredible support extended to me over the years. Your partnership and collaboration have been instrumental in our collective success and progress.
Working alongside dedicated and professional individuals like yourselves has been an honour to me. Your commitment to excellence and your support has not only enabled us to achieve our goals but has also set a high standard for our performance. As I bid farewell, I am confident that the relationship we have built will continue to strive and grow forever.
“To the organizing committee and those who have immensely contributed financially to the realization of this event, I would like to thank each and everyone of you for the incredible effort and dedication you put in organizing this wonderful event. Your hard-work, meticulous planning and attention to details have made this day special and memorable for me. I am deeply grateful for everything you have done. This event is a testament to your talent, passion and hard-work. I am honored to have such dedicated committed officers as organizing team. Thank you for making my retirement celebration extraordinary. Your effort has made this daya day I will always cherish. “Thank you for being part of this historic moment. Lastly and most importantly, I want to take a moment to appreciate my precious and living mother Hajia Hadiza Yusuf, for the love, prayers and guidance you have given me throughout this journey and beyond. You are an inspiration to my life.
“To my late father Mallam Yusuf Sarkin Gabas, who have designed and laid the foundation of my life, your guidance and wisdom continue to inspire me everyday. I wish you were alive to witness what the seed you have planted have grown to be. May Allah have mercy on you.
I will also like to acknowledge my adorable wife and children for their unwavering support, understanding and love. You have been my anchor throughout this journey. I am excited to spend more time with you and create new memories together. Your support has made every day possible, and for that, I am deeply thankful to almighty God for having you by my side. ALHAMDULILLAH
With all my love, gratitude and appreciation to everyone here.
Thank You”.
