By Paul Odenyi, Abuja.

Unless the University of Surrey, United Kingdom changes its mind, Nigerian atheletes going for the 2012 London Olympics will have to make alternative arrangements for their accommodation.

The reason is that agreement reached between the Nigerian Sports Commission for the use of the university campus as camp for the athletes has lapsed following Nigerias inability to pay the minimum 30 percent down payment for the use of the university hostels.

Athletes

Director General of the Nigeria Sports Commission, Dr. Pat Ekeji revealed this yesterday at the graduation of pioneer participants of the Super Sports, NSC, Wits Business School and Univeristy of Nigeria Nsukka programme in management development, in Abuja.

Nigeria was required to pay 584,000 pound sterling, representing thirty percent of the required fund for the accommodation.

Already the Nigeria Olympic Committee president, Sani Ndanusa is in London negotiating with official of the university for a possible review of the agreement to enable Nigeria secure the campus for her atheletes.

Dr. Ekeji said the poor sports funding situation in Nigeria is due mainly to the budgeting cycle in government which require that all government sectors submit its funding requirement by the end of the year for enactment in the appropriation act by the National Assembly.