UK records over 22,000 asylum applications from Nigerians

The United Kingdom has received over 22,000 asylum applications from Nigerian nationals between 2010 and 2024.

According to data from the UK Home Office revealed that 22,619 Nigerians applied for asylum during the period.

Nigerians made up one in every 30 asylum seekers, ranking 11th among all nationalities.

The UK’s year-end Asylum and Resettlement report showed a major rise in Nigerian applications in 2024.

Applications jumped from 1,462 in 2023 to 2,841 in 2024, nearly doubling within one year.

In total, the UK received 108,138 asylum applications in 2024, marking a 378 per cent increase since 2010.

Most first-time applicants were from South Asia and the Middle East.

Iran topped the chart with 75,737 claims, driven by crackdowns on political dissidents.

Pakistan followed with 57,621 asylum seekers, including over 10,000 in 2024 alone.

Reports linked the rise to post-election unrest and rising blasphemy-related prosecutions.

Afghanistan placed third with 54,363 claims since 2010, and 8,508 in 2024 alone.

That figure reflects the fallout from the Taliban’s 2021 return to power.

Other high-ranking countries include Albania (50,944), Iraq (45,711), Eritrea (37,687), and Syria (34,997).

Bangladesh logged 31,744 asylum claims, jumping from 5,097 in 2023 to 7,225 in 2024.

Analysts blame the surge on unrest following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Sudan (30,897) and India (30,179) rounded out the top ten.

Nigeria ranked just above Sri Lanka (22,059) and ahead of Vietnam, China, and Turkey.

Lower-ranking countries like Brazil, Kuwait, Yemen, Colombia, and Jordan all recorded under 6,500 claims each.

The Home Office did not release data on approvals or rejections specific to Nigerian applicants.

Observers say economic hardship, insecurity, and political instability drive the rise in Nigerian asylum seekers.

The UK continues to tighten immigration laws while monitoring trends in asylum claims worldwide.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook