How to Pack for International Travel from Nigeria

Pack for two climates, not one

Leaving Lagos or Abuja's heat for a UK autumn, a Canadian winter, or even a mild European shoulder season catches first-time travellers off guard more than almost anything else on this list. The fix isn't heavier clothing — it's layers you can add or remove as the day and the indoor heating swing the temperature around you. A base layer, a mid layer like a fleece or jumper, and a single genuinely windproof or waterproof outer layer will cover far more situations than three separate heavy coats. If you're headed somewhere with real winter, proper closed shoes matter more than the number of jackets you bring — cold feet ruin a trip faster than a cold face.

What goes where: your three packing zones

Before you pack a single item, sort it into one of three piles:

The Nigerian foodstuff problem

This is the single most common way Nigerian travellers lose items at customs, and the rules are stricter than most people assume:

• Meat products are a hard no. Suya, kilishi, ponmo, smoked or dried meat, and bushmeat are strictly prohibited into the UK, US, Canada and the EU, regardless of how well it's packaged, due to animal disease control rules.
• Fresh produce is heavily restricted. Fresh fruit, vegetables and leafy herbs like ugu or bitter leaf generally require a phytosanitary certificate most travellers won't have, so they're effectively off the table.
• Raw nuts and seeds need to be commercially packaged. Raw groundnuts, cashews and egusi are restricted unless they're sealed, commercially processed products rather than something scooped from a market.
• Dried fish, crayfish and stockfish are conditional. These can sometimes be brought in if they're professionally processed, packaged and meet the destination's health-marking standards — rules vary noticeably by country, and the UK in particular has historically been stricter on these than the US or Canada.

The simplest fix: Nigerian and African grocery stores exist in most major cities with a Nigerian community, stocking egusi, crayfish, palm oil, stockfish and garri that have already cleared legal import processes. It's often genuinely easier, and far less risky, to buy what you need once you land than to risk confiscation at the border with something you packed at home.

Pack medication right, or risk it being confiscated

• Keep all medication in your carry-on, in its original packaging with the pharmacy label visible, never in checked luggage — a delayed bag can turn into a real medical problem for anyone on a daily prescription.
• Bring a doctor's letter or prescription copy for anything beyond common over-the-counter medication, especially for a trip longer than a couple of weeks.
• Check your destination's rules on controlled substances before you fly. Medications widely and easily available in Nigeria, including tramadol and codeine-containing products, are restricted or outright banned in a number of destination countries — a doctor's letter matters even more here, since it's what distinguishes personal medical use from a much bigger problem at customs.
• Liquid medication over 100ml is generally still allowed if declared at security, but it helps to have it clearly labelled and ready to show.

Electronics, cash, and the small stuff people forget

• Bring a universal plug adapter. Nigeria runs on 230V with Type D/G plugs, while destinations like the US and Canada use 120V Type A/B — check your device is rated for both voltages before assuming an adapter alone is enough.
• Power banks belong in your carry-on, not checked luggage. Lithium battery restrictions mean most airlines require them in the cabin, and some have watt-hour limits on larger units.
• Sort your forex before you pack, not after — if you haven't already, this is worth doing alongside your flight booking, since PTA/BTA allocations need to be arranged through your bank in advance.
• Photograph your documents and store copies in the cloud, separate from the originals, in case a bag or wallet goes missing mid-trip.

Baggage weight and fees: know before you pack

Most international economy tickets come with a standard 23kg checked bag allowance, though this varies by airline and fare type, so it's worth confirming yours when you book your flight rather than assuming. Weigh your bag at home before you leave for the airport — a kitchen or luggage scale takes thirty seconds and can save you a surprise excess-baggage fee that's almost always more expensive at the counter than it would have been to simply pack lighter or check a second bag in advance.