The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD, has approved the appointment of Deputy Comptroller Abubakar Lucky Aliyu as the new National Coordinator of the Operation Whirlwind Team.
Aliyu succeeds Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) I.K. Oladeji, who has been redeployed to the Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation (E, I & I) Department at the NCS Headquarters.
Until his recent appointment, Aliyu served as Deputy National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, a role in which he distinguished himself through strategic leadership and operational effectiveness. Widely regarded as an expert in counter-terrorism and insurgency, his professional experience spans academics, customs enforcement, intelligence operations, and public administration.
The announcement coincided with Aliyu’s investiture as a Professor of Practice by Omniversity Imperial College, headquartered in Missouri, United States of America, during a well-attended ceremony held in Lagos.
In his acceptance and defence of the professorial award, Aliyu reflected on the root causes of smuggling, terrorism, and insurgency, particularly within developing societies. He identified the abuse and trafficking of illicit drugs as a major catalyst fueling criminality, youth involvement in smuggling, and the escalation of insecurity.
According to him, meaningful engagement of citizens—especially young people—through productive and lawful means remains critical to addressing social vices and strengthening national security. He further attributed insecurity to the preference for illegal and quick financial gains over legitimate livelihoods.
Describing smuggling as a grave threat to national development, Aliyu warned that it undermines local industries, weakens economic growth, and enriches foreign economies at the expense of Nigeria. He reaffirmed his commitment, in line with his oath as a Customs officer, to intensify efforts aimed at reducing smuggling to the barest minimum.
He stressed that effective border control and anti-smuggling operations would not only safeguard local production but also position the country to earn much-needed foreign exchange and achieve sustainable economic advancement.
Speaking on behalf of the institution, the management of Omniversity Imperial College explained that the Professor of Practice award is designed to promote the application of knowledge, encouraging graduates to translate academic learning into practical solutions.
The President of Omniversity in Lagos, Prof. Akersdolu-Ale, lamented what he described as the growing disconnect between theory and practice in higher education. He noted that it was increasingly embarrassing to find individuals bearing professorial titles in engineering disciplines who lacked the practical competence to handle basic technical tasks.
“We had to pause and ask ourselves how quality should truly be measured. Practice is the missing link,” he stated.
Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, supported the institution’s stance, advocating for a comprehensive review of academic curricula to align with modern realities.
He likened outdated educational methods to using World War I equipment to fight contemporary warfare, emphasizing the need for adaptive, skills-driven education.
Also speaking at the event, Mrs. Ibidapo-Obe, representing the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, highlighted the Ministry’s strategic plan focused on educational reform and economic transformation.
All speakers at the investiture ceremony unanimously called for the adoption of practice-based education models and structured recognition of professional skills as a pathway to national development.
The event also featured the induction of several fellows into the institution, including Dr. Dakuku Peterside, further underscoring the college’s commitment to bridging the gap between academia and real-world practice.