Traveling With Nigerian Food Items: What You Need to Know

When it comes to bringing items through airport checkpoints, we have seen just about anything. Traveling with food items is even a bigger challenge.

Nigerians are lovers of “good food” and everyone has favourite foods from their towns and villages that they want to take abroad before acclimatising, or items from their destination that they want to bring back home.

However, there are certain standard items that are not allowed on commercial carriers globally. This is for the safety of air passengers, crew members and other creatures on the ground, should anything go wrong.

Regulations for carry-on items and checked baggage vary depending on the item and whether it is brought into the cabin or checked in as luggage.

Passengers must realise that it is better to confirm if in doubt with the carrier in advance than to get to the airport with items that need to be re-arranged as check-in or cannot be transported at all.

Travelling by air can be stressful at times. As you plan to pay baggage fees and try to fit enough belongings into your luggage, you also need to make sure the items you pack are not prohibited on flights.

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These are some suggested Q & As that we think should be able to guide you:

Q. Are liquids and gels permitted in my checked baggage?

A. Yes. The liquid/gel restrictions only apply to carry-on baggage.

Q. May I bring liquids and gels in my carry-on?

A. Yes, but only in limited amounts. Liquids and gels must be in individual containers of 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres) or less and placed inside one clear, quart-size, plastic, zip-top bag.  Containers should fit comfortably into your bag, and only one bag is permitted per passenger. If you need to bring more than 3.4 ounces of any liquid or gel substance, it should go into your checked luggage or be shipped ahead.

Q. May I pour shampoo and other liquids or gels into unmarked, travel-size containers?

Yes.

Q. What are the rules for makeup?

A. Makeup is subject to the same liquid and gel rules as all other substances — so if you’re bringing liquid mascara, lip gels or other liquid- or gel-like items, they will need to be placed in your quart-size plastic bag in 3.4-ounce or smaller containers. Lipstick, powders, solid lip balms and other solid beauty products are not subject to the rules, and may be carried in your hand luggage without restriction.

Q. What food items are allowed for passengers leaving Nigerian Int’l airports?

A. Meat, dairy and other animal products are not allowed into the EU countries from countries outside of the EU. Moreover, meat are very cheap in Europe, you really don’t need to bring them.

smoked fish

Q. Are these food items permitted?

Egusi, ogbonor, Local Crayfish, Okporoko, Mangara, Dried fish, Ukazi, Oha, Ugwu ,Kuli Kuli, Fufu, Groundnut Oil, Palm Oil, Egusi, Garri, Pepper – soup condiments, Beans, Atanla (red hot chilli pepper) and many more

A.  Yes

• Make sure your Egusi is well blended dried and well wrapped.
• Traveling to the US? Do not travel with wet food items. Usually, wet food stuff can contain organisms not native to the US. Chicken is prohibited because of Bird Flu and beef because of Mad Cow disease.
• Palm oil is allowed but only in small quantity and should be in branded packages if possible.
• Dried/smoked fish should properly wrapped also in order to avoid unpleasant odours

Even though some food items are permitted in the countries you are visiting, some overzealous Nigerian customs officers would not allow you travel with some items except you part with some money.

Note: What you can carry depends on the country you are traveling to, but you will still have to declare all food items you are carrying regardless of country anyway.

 What has been your experience when traveling with food items, use the comment box below to share.