Nigerian customs officials received a smelly surprise when 2.3 tonnes of rotten fish arrived at Lagos's Michelle Terminal this month.

Seventy-eight 30-kilogram bales of dried fish heads, worth NGN1 million (USD8,247) were destroyed by Nigeria's National Agency for Food & Drug Administration & Control (NAFDAC) after being deemed unfit for human consumption.

Officials told AllAfrica.com the fish heads' container had been punctured by a container handler, allowing water to enter it. The heads, which were shipped from Iceland, had rotted long before arrival.

Silvermoon Industries, which was responsible for the delivery, allowed the stock to be destroyed immediately, the report said. NAFDAC has appealed to importers to ensure proper handling of containers to avoid spoilage.