Canada has denied 1,596 asylum claims filed by Nigerians so far in 2025, according to fresh data from the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).
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The figures, updated to August 21, show that Nigerian nationals filed 3,548 claims this year, of which 2,292 were accepted. This puts the acceptance rate at about 65 per cent, higher than in previous years when cumulative rejections amounted to over 13,000.
An earlier analysis by Maple Crest Law, a Canadian immigration practice, placed Nigeria among the top sources of asylum seekers alongside Mexico, India, Haiti, and Colombia.
Violence linked to Boko Haram, coupled with economic instability, has been identified as a key driver of departures. Ontario and Alberta currently host the largest number of asylum seekers.
The IRB grants refugee protection if the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) confirms that an applicant meets the United Nations definition of a refugee or is otherwise in need of protection. Claimants must demonstrate a substantiated fear of persecution or risk of torture, death, or cruel and unusual treatment if returned to their home country.
By comparison, official records show that in 2024 alone, 811 Nigerian claims were rejected while 2,230 were approved. Between 2013 and 2024, 13,171 Nigerian applications were denied and 10,580 accepted, keeping Nigeria consistently among the top five in volume of rejections.
The single highest year of denials came in 2019, with 3,951 Nigerians refused refugee protection.
Meanwhile, official data places Nigeria among the top 10 countries with the most accepted claims in 2024, ranking 8th with 2,230 approvals.
Commenting on the trend, Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi, Executive Director of the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, said irregular migration driven by economic hardship remains a major reason for rejections.
“Most times, many Nigerians miss it when they don’t understand the laws governing refugee status in their chosen destination. Documentation is crucial because coming irregularly will get you rejected. But ultimately, everyone’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 said.
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