NAN
The United Nations (UN) has praised Nigeria for its mature handling of the Iran’s arm shipment furore. It was at the end of an inspection of the impounded weapons.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Odein Ajumogobia told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja that the team said at the end of its tour, "Nigeria acted in a model way, worthy of commendation’’.
The team met with Ajumogobia and top security officers for the inspection in Lagos.
Nigeria requested the intervention of the UN Security Council on the arms shipment, which was intercepted at the Tin Can Island port, Lagos last October.
The weapons include rocket launchers and grenades labelled as building materials concealed in a container.
The minister explained that the team recommended "experience-sharing’’ of the issue with other members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to create awareness and ways to address similar issues.
"One of their recommendations was that we could share the experience in the sub-region, since the shipment came into Nigeria, it could come through any country in the sub-region.
"They thought Nigeria acted in a model way and we could share the experience with other countries because we are all vulnerable to these things,’’ he said.
Ajumogobia said the team also expressed its willingness to collaborate with Nigeria in organising a seminar on arms proliferation.
The minister, who noted that the weapons were being presented as evidence at a trial, said the team’s report would be presented to the UN Security Council after the trial.
Three Nigerians - Ali Jega, Ali Wamako, and Mohammed Tukur as well as an Iranian - Azim Adhajani - are facing trial in connection with the shipment
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