The United States (US) Navy, under its Project Handclasp, on Tuesday donated materials worth $2.6 million (about N416 million) to three Nigerian Charity organisations.
The materials, which were delivered at the Apapa Port by US Naval Services Spearhead (USNS), included personal mobility handcarts, wheel chairs and medical supplies.
The benefiting charity organisations were Hope for Independent Living Initiative, Assemblies of God and Deseret International Charity Vision.
Capt. Douglas Casavant, Master of the USNS, who presented the items in the absence of the benefiting organisations, said the donation was to promote the Handclasp project.
Casanvant, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) shortly after delivering the items, expressed the organisations’ commitment to the project’s sustenance.
“Project Handclasp is a US Navy programme that accepts and transport educational, humanitarian materials to our partner nations’ recipients.
“This shipment is part of the project’s donation to different benefiting groups across Africa. And this present shipment to Nigeria is for churches and humanitarian organisations.
“The shipment overall, which is worth $2.6 million, is being delivered by the US Navy under its project Handclasp,’’ he said.
Casavant said that the navy had the items from Personal Transport (PET) International, Hope Haven International and AERObridge International.
The Captain of the Ship made the donation after waiting for hours for the arrival of the benefiting charity organisations.
The items were scheduled to be delivered to them at 10:00 a.m., but the Captain having waited till 1:20 p.m., decided to perform the handing over, without the beneficiaries.
A beneficiary, who pleaded anonymity, however, told NAN that they were held back at the Port’s entrance, over clearance formalities.
She said that the charity organisations had come with trucks to convey the items to their different offices. [NAN]
