By Peter Omopo | September 14, 2025
Canada has denied 1,596 asylum applications filed by Nigerian nationals so far in 2025, fresh figures from the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) reveal.
According to data updated as of August 21, Nigerians submitted 3,548 claims this year, of which 2,292 were approved — representing an acceptance rate of about 65 per cent. This marks an improvement compared to previous years, when cumulative rejections exceeded 13,000.
A report by Maple Crest Law, a Canadian immigration practice, earlier estimated that Nigerians were among the top asylum seekers in early 2025, alongside citizens of Mexico, India, Haiti, and Colombia.
The IRB grants protection if applicants meet the United Nations definition of a refugee or demonstrate they would face torture, persecution, or cruel and unusual punishment if returned home. Many Nigerian claimants cite Boko Haram violence, insecurity, and economic hardship as drivers of their migration.
Ontario and Alberta remain the top destinations for Nigerian asylum seekers.
Official records show that 811 Nigerian claims were rejected in 2024, compared to 2,230 approvals. Between 2013 and 2024, 13,171 claims from Nigerians were denied while 10,580 were accepted, placing Nigeria consistently among the top five countries with the highest number of denials.
The peak came in 2019, when 3,951 Nigerian applications were turned down. In subsequent years, the figures dropped to 1,770 in 2020, 1,686 in 2021, 728 in 2022, 439 in 2023, and 811 in 2024.
Despite the rejections, Nigeria remains among the top 10 countries with the highest number of accepted asylum claims, ranking eighth in 2024 behind Turkiye, Mexico, Colombia, Iran, Pakistan, Haiti, Afghanistan, and Kenya.
Speaking on the trend, Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi, Executive Director of the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, said irregular migration driven by economic hardship was a major factor behind rejections.
“Most times, many Nigerians miss it when they don’t understand the laws governing refugee status in their chosen destination. Documentation is crucial because coming irregularly will get you rejected. But ultimately, everybody’s rights must be protected. Migration must be safe, orderly, and regular,” she told Sunday PUNCH.
Canada recorded a historic 173,000 asylum claims in 2024, and while applications have eased slightly in 2025 — with 19,660 filed in the first two months — the volume remains well above pre-pandemic levels, contributing to growing backlogs at the IRB.
