No fewer than 13,171 Nigerians seeking asylum in Canada from 2013 to 2024 had their applications denied, official data from the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) has revealed.
According to the report, Nigeria ranked fifth among the countries with the highest number of rejected claims, with 811 applications turned down in 2024 alone. Other nations on the list include Mexico (2,954 rejections), India (1,688), Haiti (982), and Colombia (723).
The IRB grants refugee status only if an applicant meets the United Nations’ definition of a Convention refugee or is deemed in need of protection due to risks of persecution, torture, or inhumane treatment in their home country. Individuals must provide sufficient evidence to substantiate their claims, and failure to do so results in rejection.
Since the implementation of Canada’s revised refugee determination system in December 2012, Nigerian asylum rejections have fluctuated annually. The highest number of denials was recorded in 2019, with 3,951 Nigerians turned down. Other significant figures include:
- 2016: 476 rejections
- 2017: 917 rejections
- 2018: 1,777 rejections
- 2020-2024: A gradual decline, with 811 cases denied in the most recent year
Meanwhile, 94 Nigerian applicants abandoned their claims, while 78 others withdrew their applications. Additionally, 19,889 claims remain pending with the IRB.
Despite the high rejection rate, Canada has granted refugee status to 10,580 Nigerians within the decade under review. In 2024 alone, 2,230 applicants were accepted, placing Nigeria among the top 10 countries with the most successful claims. Other nations on the list include Turkiye, Mexico, Colombia, Iran, Pakistan, Haiti, Afghanistan, and Kenya.
Experts attribute the high rate of denied applications to economic migration rather than legitimate refugee claims. The Executive Director of the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi, emphasized the importance of understanding asylum laws.
“Many Nigerians apply without meeting the legal criteria. Documentation is crucial, and irregular migration increases the likelihood of rejection,” she explained.
Development economist Aliyu Ilias expressed concerns over Nigeria’s brain drain, stating that skilled professionals leaving the country weaken the local economy.
“The country invests heavily in education, especially in medical and engineering fields, only to lose these professionals to Canada and other countries,” he said.
While diaspora remittances have contributed an average of $20 billion annually to Nigeria’s economy, civil society leader Deji Adeyanju argued that migration’s long-term effects are detrimental.
“The health sector is struggling. Our best brains are leaving, and they are not returning. This is not sustainable for any developing nation,” Adeyanju warned.
As Canada continues tightening its immigration policies, experts urge Nigerians to explore legal migration pathways and contribute to strengthening the local economy.
