Nigeria’s Olympics Preparations In Doubts –Envoy

Barely nine months to the commencement of the 2012 London Olympic Games, the level of preparations and participation of the country has become a source of concern to Nigeria’s envoy to the UK.

“The sports ministry and other relevant bodies have yet to contact us (the Nigerian High Commission) on their plans for the Olympics,’’ Dalhatu Tafida, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK told our correspondent in London.

“We have not had any official correspondences from them. Maybe, they have their own separate arrangements, which we do not know,’’ the envoy said.

Tafida, who expressed concerns about the development, said the mission would soon get in touch with the relevant authorities in Abuja for them to redouble their efforts.

According to the envoy, other countries have begun putting proper arrangements in place for participation and called on the country’s sport bodies to redouble their participatory efforts.

The High Commissioner advised against the “fire brigade approach of doing things’’, stressing, “we will be preparing our sportsmen and women to excel, but for them to excel properly, we need a proper environment’’.

Tafida was, however, full of praises for the Bank of Industry (BOI) for its initiative in setting up, “The Nigerian Village Project’’ at the Games site in Stratford.

He said the project which was in collaboration with the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) would ensure that Nigeria tapped into the business opportunities of the Olympic Games.

The envoy said the project would also enable investors from Nigeria and the UK to explore and exploit trade investment opportunities existing between the two countries, beyond the Olympics.

“Having seen the level of commitment and preparations by the Managing Director of BOI, Ms Evelyn Oputu and given the necessary support, the project will succeed’’.

“The High Commission will cooperate and partnering also with them to succeed,’’ Tafida said.