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Dear Counsel, I will appreciate your advice, on this issue. My daughter who is a medical student in Ireland, almost missed her flight last week, when she was going back to school after her brief holiday with us in Lagos. We packed foodstuff for her like we always do, but this time in reasonable quantity, because we know she won’t be back until next year. They included yam flour, smoked fish, ground crayfish, oloyin beans and garri.

Her luggage were searched at the airport, and she was not only prevented from taking the items, she was taken to the customs office, bodily searched and quizzed for over two hours. She almost missed her flight. She eventually left without the food items, and when I went to their office later, they refused to release the seized items to me till today. Is it an offence to travel with foodstuff? T.E., Lekki, Lagos. Dear T.E., I think many Nigerians are ignorant, about restrictions on items prohibited for export out of the country. In this case however, I believe the quantity may have been the issue and ground that the customs relied on, in stopping your daughter from travelling with those food items. A small quantity for personal consumption, is often allowed. But, when the quantity is higher, it may be assumed to be of commercial quantity, and so, may not be allowed.

However, the Export (Prohibition) Act at Section 1 itemises Beans, Cassava tuber, Maize, Rice, Yam tuber and all products or derivatives of items 1 to 5. For one to lawfully export such items, he/she has to go through the process of obtaining the relevant permits and approvals.

In this case, your food items may be forfeited to the government under the law, and customs may auction them.