The Canadian government has denied refugee status to at least 13,171 Nigerians who applied for asylum between January 2013 and December 2024, according to official data from the Refugee Protection Division of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).
Among these, 811 Nigerian applications were rejected in 2024 alone, placing Nigeria among the top five countries with the highest number of denied claims. Others on the list include Mexico (2,954), India (1,688), Haiti (982), and Colombia (723).
The IRB grants refugee protection to applicants who meet the United Nations definition of a Convention refugee, as incorporated into Canadian law.
This includes individuals who can prove a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, nationality, religion, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group—such as gender identity, sexual orientation, or health conditions like HIV/AIDS.
To qualify for protection, applicants must demonstrate a real risk of torture, death, or inhumane treatment if returned to their home country.
The process typically begins when a person declares their asylum request upon arrival at a Canadian border or immigration office. If deemed eligible, their claim is referred to the Refugee Protection Division for assessment.
During the period under review, 94 Nigerian asylum claims were abandoned, often due to failure to submit required documents on time, provide accurate contact information, or attend hearings.
Additionally, 78 claims were withdrawn, while 19,889 cases remain pending.
Rejections of Nigerian asylum seekers have fluctuated over the years, with 127 denied in 2013, 241 in 2014, and 248 in 2015.
The numbers increased significantly in subsequent years, peaking at 3,951 rejections in 2019. More recently, 1,770 claims were denied in 2020, followed by 1,686 in 2021, 728 in 2022, 439 in 2023, and 811 in 2024.
Despite the high rejection rate, Canada has granted refugee status to 10,580 Nigerians over the past decade, including 2,230 successful applications in 2024.
Nigeria ranked eighth among the top 10 countries with the highest number of approved claims, behind Türkiye (4,866), Mexico (4,363), Colombia (3,340), Iran (3,200), Pakistan (2,556), Haiti (2,211), and Afghanistan (1,921).
Experts Weigh in on Migration Trends
Speaking on the trend, Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi, Executive Director of the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, attributed the high rejection rate to irregular migration driven by economic hardship.
She emphasized that while documentation and legal entry are crucial, those genuinely in need of protection should not be denied assistance.
Development economist Aliyu Ilias raised concerns about the long-term economic impact of Nigeria’s brain drain, noting that skilled professionals, especially in medicine and engineering, receive subsidized education in Nigeria but end up contributing their expertise to foreign economies.
Citing reports that Nigerians in the diaspora sent home an average of $20 billion annually between 2019 and 2021, Ilias acknowledged remittances as a financial boost but argued that they do not compensate for the loss of skilled labor.
Similarly, activist Deji Adeyanju criticized the mass exodus of professionals, warning that the country’s struggling sectors, including healthcare and education, will continue to suffer as top talents relocate abroad.
“The so-called ‘Japa syndrome’ is draining Nigeria’s best minds,” Adeyanju remarked. “Doctors, lecturers, lawyers, and engineers are leaving because they see no future here. No country can thrive when its brightest citizens are forced to seek better opportunities elsewhere.”
