Between January 2013 and December 2024, Canada rejected asylum applications from 13,171 Nigerians, including 811 in 2024 alone, according to reports by Sunday PUNCH.
Official data from Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) shows Nigeria among the top five countries with the highest number of rejected asylum claims. Nigeria ranks 5th, following Mexico, India, Haiti, and Colombia.
The IRB grants refugee status in Canada if the applicant meets the United Nations’ definition of a refugee or proves they are at risk of harm, such as torture or persecution in their home country.
Refugee claims are typically submitted to Canada’s Border Services Agency upon arrival or at designated immigration points. Claims are then assessed for eligibility, and if they qualify, the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) reviews them.
Data reveals that 94 Nigerian claims were abandoned due to missed deadlines or failure to attend hearings. Additionally, 78 claims were withdrawn, and 19,889 are still pending. Since the implementation of a new system in 2012, Nigerian rejections have steadily increased, peaking at 3,951 in 2019.
Despite these rejections, Canada granted refugee status to 10,580 Nigerians over the past decade, with 2,230 receiving protection in 2024 alone.
Nigerians were also ranked among the top 10 countries whose claims were accepted. Countries like Turkiye, Mexico, and Colombia were also included in this list.
Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi, Executive Director of the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, explained that many rejections stem from economic migration rather than genuine persecution. She emphasized that those who genuinely require protection should not be denied, regardless of irregular migration status.
Aliyu Ilias, a development economist, pointed out that the migration of skilled professionals from Nigeria to Canada is a loss to the country, especially in sectors like healthcare, where Nigeria heavily subsidizes training for its citizens.
Deji Adeyanju, convener of Concerned Nigerians, criticized the situation, highlighting that while remittances from the Diaspora are valuable, they cannot replace the long-term economic contributions of professionals who leave Nigeria.
