Canada has rejected the asylum applications of at least 13,171 Nigerians between January 2013 and December 2024, with 811 rejections occurring in 2024 alone.
This data, obtained from the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB), highlights the increasing difficulty for Nigerians seeking refuge in the country.
The IRB grants refugee protection when the RPD determines that an applicant meets the United Nations’ definition of a Convention refugee.
This definition applies to individuals who demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution due to race, nationality, religion, political beliefs, or membership in a specific social group.
“The officer decides whether the claim is eligible to be referred to the IRB. If the claim is eligible, it is sent (‘referred’) to the RPD to start the claim for refugee protection process,” according to an application guideline by the Refugee Board.
Applicants must also provide credible evidence of the risk of torture, threats to life, or the possibility of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment if returned to their home country.
A detailed analysis of the data shows a steady rise in rejections over the years. In 2013, 127 Nigerian asylum claims were denied, followed by 241 in 2014 and 248 in 2015. The numbers surged to 476 in 2016, 917 in 2017, and peaked at 1,777 in 2018.
The highest number of rejections occurred in 2019, with 3,951 Nigerian applicants being denied refugee status. Subsequently, the figures decreased to 1,770 in 2020, 1,686 in 2021, 728 in 2022, 439 in 2023, and 811 in 2024.
Despite the high rejection rate, Canada did approve 10,580 asylum claims from Nigerians over the same period, including 2,230 successful applications in 2024. The acceptance rate fluctuated yearly, with fewer than 20 approvals in 2013, 308 in 2014, and 394 in 2015.
The numbers rose to 389 in 2016, 764 in 2017, 755 in 2018, and 1,733 in 2019. In 2020, 1,534 claims were accepted, followed by 2,302 in 2021 and 1,315 in 2022.
Canada’s tightening immigration policies have significantly impacted refugee claims. In January 2025, only 11,840 people filed refugee claims, compared to 19,821 in July 2024—the lowest monthly count since September 2023.
Additionally, the number of visitor visas issued dropped from approximately 1.8 million in 2023 to 1.5 million in 2024, with Nigeria experiencing a decline from 79,378 to 51,828 visas.
Human rights advocates have expressed concerns over the stricter immigration approach, arguing that it limits the options for individuals fleeing persecution.
Diana Gallego, co-executive director of the FCJ Refugee Centre in Toronto, commented, “If people are fleeing persecution, the only way that some of them can survive is to seek refuge.”
