By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
Canada has denied 1,596 asylum claims filed by Nigerians so far in 2025, new data from the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) reveal.
The figures, updated to August 21, show that Nigerian nationals submitted 3,548 claims this year, of which 2,292 were approved. That puts the acceptance rate at about 65%, an improvement from previous years when cumulative rejections topped 13,000.
An earlier analysis by Maple Crest Law, a Canadian immigration practice, had projected 3,455 Nigerian claims for 2025, ranking Nigeria among the top asylum-seeking nations alongside Mexico, India, Haiti, and Colombia.
Drivers Of Migration
Violence from Boko Haram, rising insecurity, and economic instability continue to fuel the exodus of Nigerians. Ontario and Alberta host the largest share of Nigerian asylum seekers.
Under Canadian law, refugee protection is granted if applicants meet the United Nations definition of a refugee, those facing persecution due to race, nationality, religion, political opinion, or membership in a social group. These may include sexual orientation, gender identity, women, or persons living with HIV/AIDS. Applicants must also prove a risk of torture, life-threatening danger, or cruel and unusual punishment if returned home.
Why Many Nigerians Are Rejected
Experts link high rejection rates to irregular migration and poor documentation.
Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi, Executive Director of the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, explained: “Most times, many Nigerians miss it when they don’t understand the laws governing refugee status as adopted in their chosen destination. Every country has its regulations for absorbing people into its system”
“For one, documentation is crucial because coming irregularly will get you rejected from their system. But ultimately, everybody’s rights must be protected. Migration must be safe, orderly, and regular. Even if their status is irregular, those who really need protection should be protected,” she added.
The Bigger Picture
In 2024, Canada rejected 811 Nigerian claims while approving 2,230. Between 2013 and 2024, the IRB turned down 13,171 applications from Nigerians while granting 10,580. The peak rejection year was 2019, with 3,951 denials.
Despite the setbacks, Canada has granted protection to more than 10,500 Nigerians in the past decade. Nigeria now ranks 8th among the top 10 countries with the most accepted claims, behind Turkiye, Mexico, Colombia, Iran, Pakistan, Haiti, and Afghanistan.
Overall, asylum demand in Canada spiked after a record 173,000 claims in 2024. While applications eased slightly in 2025, with 19,660 filed in the first two months alone, numbers remain far above pre-pandemic levels.
Meanwhile, the IRB continues to face criticism over mounting backlogs, even as political pressure grows around migration from countries like Nigeria.
