Canada has denied at least 1,596 asylum applications from Nigerians between January and August 2025, fresh figures from the country’s Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) have revealed.
The latest data show that Nigerians filed 3,548 claims during the period, out of which 2,292 were approved, placing the acceptance rate at about 65 per cent.
This marks a higher approval ratio compared to previous years when rejections of Nigerian claims exceeded 13,000 cumulatively.
Nigeria remains one of the top sources of asylum seekers in Canada, alongside Mexico, India, Haiti, and Colombia.
Analysts attribute the surge to worsening insecurity and economic instability, with Boko Haram violence and unemployment driving more Nigerians to seek refuge abroad.
Ontario and Alberta provinces currently host the largest populations of Nigerian asylum seekers.
Under Canadian law, refugee protection is granted if applicants demonstrate a “well-founded fear of persecution” based on race, religion, political opinion, nationality, or membership in particular social groups such as sexual minorities, women, or persons living with HIV/AIDS. Applicants must also prove they face risks of torture, cruel treatment, or life-threatening conditions if returned home.
Records further show that in 2024, 811 Nigerian claims were rejected while 2,230 were accepted. Between 2013 and 2024, at least 13,171 asylum claims from Nigerians were turned down, while 10,580 were successful.
The highest annual rejection came in 2019, with 3,951 Nigerians denied protection.
Despite the rejection figures, Canada still ranks Nigeria among the top ten countries with successful asylum claims.
In 2024 alone, Nigeria placed eighth, behind Turkiye, Mexico, Colombia, Iran, Pakistan, Haiti, and Afghanistan.
Speaking with Platform Times, Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi, Executive Director of the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, said irregular migration and poor documentation are the major reasons many Nigerians are denied asylum.
“Most times, many Nigerians miss it when they don’t understand the laws governing refugee status in their destination countries.
Documentation is crucial because irregular entry often leads to outright rejection. However, migration must remain safe, orderly, and regular.
Those who genuinely face persecution deserve protection regardless of their status,” she said.
Meanwhile, Canada’s refugee board has come under criticism for rising backlogs as asylum demand remains high.
Official records show a record 173,000 claims were filed in 2024, while 19,660 new applications were submitted in the first two months of 2025 alone.
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