Canada rejects over 13,000 asylum applications from Nigerians

Canada has rejected asylum claims from more than 13,000 Nigerians over the past decade, according to data from the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).

The figures reveal that 13,171 Nigerian applicants were denied refugee protection between January 2013 and December 2024, including 811 rejections in 2024 alone.

Nigeria ranks among the top five countries with the highest number of rejected asylum claims in Canada, placing 5th.

Other countries with significant rejection rates 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, which has been incorporated into Canadian law.

According to the 1951 UN Convention, refugees are individuals with a well-founded fear of persecution due to their race, nationality, religion, political beliefs, or membership in a particular social group.

Social groups can include individuals based on sexual orientation, gender identity, being a woman, or living with HIV/AIDS.

Applicants must also provide evidence of risks such as torture, threats to their life, or the possibility of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment if forced to return to their home country.

Protection claims are typically made when immigrants notify the Border Services Agency upon arrival at a Canadian port of entry or report to an immigration officer.

“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 the IRB’s application guidelines.

During the period under review, 94 claims from Nigerian passport holders were abandoned.

The RPD explained that a claim may be abandoned if the applicant fails to provide a completed Basis of Claim Form on time, does not provide current and correct contact information, or misses their refugee protection claim hearing.

Additionally, 78 claims were withdrawn, representing cases where the claimant chose not to continue with their application.

As of December 2024, 19,889 claims from Nigerians were still pending.

A breakdown of the rejections since 2013 shows that 127, 241, and 248 Nigerians were denied refugee protection in 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively.

Rejections rose significantly in subsequent years, peaking at 3,951 in 2019.

The numbers dropped to 1,770 in 2020, 1,686 in 2021, 728 in 2022, 439 in 2023, and 811 in 2024.

Despite the high rejection rates, 10,580 Nigerians were granted refugee status over the past decade, including at least 2,230 successful claims from January to December 2024.

Nigeria also ranked among the top 10 countries with the highest number of accepted claims, placing 8th.

Other countries on the list include Turkiye (4,866), Mexico (4,363), Colombia (3,340), Iran (3,200), Pakistan (2,556), Haiti (2,211), Afghanistan (1,921), and Kenya (1,653).

Acceptance figures for Nigerians include fewer than 20 in 2013, 308 in 2014, 394 in 2015, and 389 in 2016.

The numbers increased to 764 in 2017, 755 in 2018, and 1,733 in 2019.

In 2020, 1,534 claims were approved, followed by 2,302 in 2021, 1,315 in 2022, and 2,230 in 2024.

The IRB’s data highlights the challenges faced by Nigerian asylum seekers in Canada, as well as the rigorous process applicants must undergo to secure refugee protection.

While many claims are rejected, thousands of Nigerians have successfully found refuge in Canada over the past decade.

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