A Nigerian man has explained why he stopped responding to his cousin living in Germany after the relative allegedly ignored a message he sent while helping him check the prices of roofing sheets in the market.

According to the man’s account, his cousin contacted him a few weeks ago to enquire about the cost of roofing sheets. He said he visited the market, collected samples and sent the available prices to his relative.

However, the cousin reportedly read the message without responding, leaving the man disappointed after taking the time to make the enquiries.

The man said his cousin later contacted him again, this time asking him to check the prices of foreign doors.

Rather than respond to the new request, he said he deliberately read the message without replying, choosing to treat his cousin the same way he felt he had been treated.

According to the account, the cousin eventually sent another message explaining that he had been busy with work when he received the earlier update about the roofing sheets.

However, the man’s decision to ignore the subsequent request had already highlighted his displeasure over the earlier interaction.

The incident has sparked conversations about family relationships, communication and the importance of acknowledging other people’s efforts, especially when they take time out of their schedules to help.

It has also raised questions about whether leaving a message unanswered is necessarily a sign of disrespect or whether people should allow room for explanations before drawing conclusions.