By Eyere Ekuta
The conversation on NCBN Sports Show on 106.7FM Abuja took a deeply inspiring turn as distinguished customs officer, basketball enthusiast, and youth development advocate, Abubakar Lucky Aliyu, joined host Eyere Ekuta to unveil an ambitious movement that could reshape grassroots basketball development across Nigeria.
A decorated officer of the Nigeria Customs Service and founder/president of the Amateur Basketball Academies (ABA), DC Lucky Aliyu spoke passionately about a project born not merely out of love for sports, but from personal experience, gratitude, and a desire to rescue young Nigerians from the dangers of the streets through basketball and education.
Scheduled to tip off in July 2026, the ABA League is already gathering momentum, with academies registering from across the country and stakeholders beginning to align with what Aliyu describes as “a dream becoming reality.”
“Without Basketball, I Would Have Been on the Streets”
From the very beginning of the interview, DC Aliyu’s story revealed how deeply basketball shaped his life.
Reflecting on his childhood, he recalled growing up as a barrack kid, the son of a soldier, where basketball courts inside officers’ quarters became more than recreation grounds, they became pathways to purpose.
“I started the game very early at the age of nine as a barrack kid. My father was a soldier, so we had basketball courts in the officers’ quarters. I played with young officers and even some white kids who taught me the game.”
What started as casual play soon evolved into something much bigger. Coaches quickly noticed his height, talent, and potential. Under the guidance of late coach Dan-Azumi Danjuma of Niger Potters, DC Aliyu began his journey into organized basketball.
He went on to play youth championships, school sports competitions, and local government tournaments, eventually representing teams in Maiduguri and Abuja. Basketball eventually opened the door to his career in customs.
“I equally got recruited into the Nigeria Customs Service because of basketball,” he revealed proudly.
But perhaps the most powerful moment came when he reflected on how the sport transformed his life entirely.
“Without basketball, I would have been a vulcanizer. I keep saying it. I would have been a child on the street without education.”
That personal testimony now fuels his determination to give other children the same opportunity basketball gave him.
A Vision Born from Seeing Untapped Talent
Aliyu explained that the idea behind the Amateur Basketball Academies was inspired largely by the enormous untapped talent he encountered, especially during his posting to Maiduguri.
Among internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and underserved communities, he saw countless young boys and girls with athletic potential but no structure to guide them.
“I saw very tall kids (male and female alike) and I asked myself, how do we combine active work with youth development?”
Rather than creating another short-lived sports initiative, DC Aliyu sought to build a sustainable structure that could genuinely develop talent while protecting children from exploitation.
Drawing from his network of coaches, sports administrators, and professionals, he began putting together a framework that would eventually become ABA.
A Structured League, Not a One-Off Tournament
One of the strongest themes throughout the interview was consistency.
DC Aliyu was emphatic that the ABA project would not become another ceremonial sports jamboree where children gather for a week and disappear afterward.
“What is killing basketball in Nigeria is consistency.”
Instead, the ABA League is designed around a proper home-and-away structure similar to professional football systems.
The maiden league, set for July 2026, is expected to feature about 20 academies in the Federal Capital Territory alone, with male and female teams participating.
According to him, the Federal Capital Territory Sports Council has already keyed into the initiative, and inspections will be carried out to ensure participating facilities meet acceptable standards.
“We are not taking them away from their territory. If you play on my home court today, tomorrow I play on yours.”
The vision is expansive. Already, over 70 academies from across Nigeria have reportedly shown interest or registered online.
DC Aliyu believes frequent competitive games are critical to player development.
“When a kid plays 17 matches consistently on a weekend basis, that kid perfects his skills.”
The ABA structure is also expected to serve as a feeder system for bigger clubs and national basketball structures in the future.
Balancing Customs Operations and Basketball Administration
As National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind under the Nigeria Customs Service, DC Aliyu carries enormous national responsibilities, making many wonder how he intends to balance both worlds.
But he insists the structure around ABA makes the project manageable.
“ABA is not being run by me alone. I have seasoned coaches, professionals, technical groups, and people designing the structure.”
He also credited the leadership style of the Comptroller General of Customs as part of his inspiration.
“If a very busy person like the CGC still has time for sports, why don’t we support him in our own way?”
Aliyu added that the initiative aligns with the broader Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) vision within the customs service, especially concerning youth empowerment and social development.
Rebound: Using Basketball to Fight Drug Abuse and Crime
Perhaps one of the most socially significant parts of the interview was DC Aliyu’s revelation of a special intervention program under ABA called Rebound.
The initiative aims to rehabilitate vulnerable youths, particularly those exposed to drug abuse, insecurity, and violence in northern Nigeria.
“We want to remove kids from drugs and bring them back.”
He explained that the project intends to partner with anti-drug stakeholders and security institutions to create pathways for rehabilitation through sports.
For DC Aliyu, basketball is not just about producing athletes; it is about creating disciplined citizens and role models.
“We want to build an ecosystem where talent thrives, excellence is cultivated, and dreams become reality.”
Education Remains Non-Negotiable
Another major pillar of the ABA vision is education.
DC Aliyu repeatedly stressed that basketball and academics must go hand in hand, using his own life as an example.
A former captain at Obafemi Awolowo University and participant in the first African University Games where he won gold, DC Aliyu emphasized that sports should never derail a child academically.
“Basketball and education are partners.”
He revealed that ABA is already engaging universities and educational stakeholders to ensure talented players have academic pathways.
Institutions such as Ahmadu Bello University, Niger Delta University, and universities in Kano are among institutions expected to collaborate in creating opportunities for young athletes.
The organization also plans to monitor participants’ academic performance and general welfare closely.
“Imagine a child seeing me in uniform and saying, ‘I want to be like you.’ Then I tell him: play basketball and go to school.”
A Call for Partnership and Media Support
DC Aliyu did not hide his appreciation for the media, especially the role of NCBN Sports Show in amplifying the vision.
He described the media as the “searchlight” capable of making the dream visible to Nigerians and potential partners.
“The press is the only angle that will make this visible. We cannot do it in darkness.”
He also extended an open invitation to sponsors, sports authorities, and stakeholders willing to support youth development through sports infrastructure, equipment, and partnerships.
Friends and associates abroad, according to him, have already begun offering assistance with basketballs, jerseys, shoes, and training materials.
Message to Parents, Youths, and Nigerians
As the interview drew to a close, Aliyu delivered an emotional message to parents and young Nigerians.
To parents, he appealed for trust and support.
“Allow your kids. You won’t regret it. They will surprise you and make you proud.”
To the youths, he promised hope, structure, and guidance.
“We will take you off the streets, actualize your dreams, and make you great.”
And to sponsors and stakeholders, he called for collaboration to ensure the project survives and grows into a lasting national movement.
The Amateur Basketball Academies project may still be in its infancy, but if the passion, structure, and determination expressed during the interview are anything to go by, Nigeria could be witnessing the birth of a transformative grassroots basketball revolution, one that seeks not only to produce elite athletes, but also educated, disciplined, and purpose-driven young Nigerians.
