by Anike Jacobs

Nigerian refugees in Diffa State of Niger Republic have rejected relief materials sent to them.

The BBC Hausa Service radio reports monitored yesterday indicate that the relief materials, meant to assist them in their camps, were rejected for being branded with President Goodluck Jonathan’s photographs.

Some of the items distributed by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) representatives to the refugees include bags of rice, vegetable oil, mattresses, textiles and rugs.

“Who is going to collect these items? Who, Goodluck? No, no. All this time nothing happened until now? If we knew Jonathan’s pictures were on the item, we wouldn’t have come here. We don’t want them. What are we going to use them for? If you will do such a thing, it has to be with a clean conscience,” one of the refugees said.

Another told the BBC: “Actually, I don’t want it totally. The masses are suffering. Everybody is in hardship.”

But Ambassador Sokoto said they were in Niger to discharge their responsibility for the Nigerian government to cater for its citizens anywhere they may be.

Sola