Sending a care package to a Nigerian student or relative in the States is mostly a question of what survives the journey — and what makes them feel at home when it lands.
Start with what travels well
Dry, sealed and sturdy beats fresh and fragile every time:
- Plantain clusters — sealed, shelf-stable, and sweet enough to feel like a treat rather than groceries.
- Chin chin and other fried dough snacks — robust if packed tightly so they don't rattle.
- Ground spices and seasoning — small, light, and the thing people miss most.
- Dried fish or crayfish — practical, though double-bag it unless you want the whole box to smell.
What to think twice about
Anything fresh, anything in glass, anything that melts. If you are posting from outside the US, meat and dairy products are a common reason for parcels being held or destroyed at the border, and a box of snacks can be delayed for weeks over one item.
The simpler route for food is often to order from inside the US and have it shipped straight to them — no customs, no month in transit.
How much to send
A single bag reads as an afterthought. Four to six of something is a care package; ten is a statement. Our multipacks exist for exactly this reason, and the per-bag price drops as the box gets bigger — $7.25 a bag at four, $6.70 at ten.
Packing so it arrives intact
- Fill gaps. Anything loose in a box will shift and crush whatever is beneath it.
- Put heavy items at the bottom, snacks on top.
- Include a note. Everyone says this is the part that actually lands.
Sending ours
If plantain clusters are on the list, we ship anywhere in the US at the carrier's own price — pick a size, put their address in at checkout, and it goes out the next business day. Mixed packs settle the Original-versus-Spicy question without you having to guess.