Canada has denied refugee protection to at least 13,171 Nigerians between January 2013 and December 2024, official data from the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada has revealed.
In 2024 alone, 811 Nigerians were refused asylum, placing Nigeria among the top five countries with the most rejections. Others on the list include Mexico (2,954), India (1,688), Haiti (982), and Colombia (723).
The Canadian government grants refugee status only to those who meet the United Nations’ definition of a Convention refugee or individuals deemed in need of protection. To qualify, applicants must demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution due to their race, nationality, religion, political views, or membership in a particular social group. These groups include individuals facing persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or medical conditions such as HIV/AIDS.
During the period under review, 94 Nigerian asylum claims were abandoned, often due to incomplete documentation, while 78 claims were withdrawn by the applicants. Meanwhile, 19,889 claims remain pending.
The highest number of Nigerian rejections occurred in 2019, with 3,951 applications denied. In contrast, 10,580 Nigerians were granted asylum over the 11-year period, making Nigeria the 8th-ranked country with the most successful claims.
Speaking on the issue, Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi, Executive Director of the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, attributed many rejections to irregular migration driven by economic hardship. She emphasized that while proper documentation is essential, those in genuine need of protection should receive it regardless of their migration status.
Development economist Aliyu Ilias warned that the increasing emigration of Nigerian professionals to Canada is deepening the country’s brain drain crisis. He noted that Nigeria heavily subsidizes education for fields such as medicine and engineering, yet many professionals leave without contributing to the country’s economy.
Similarly, civil society activist Deji Adeyanju argued that reliance on remittances from Nigerians abroad cannot compensate for the economic losses caused by mass emigration. “How can a country develop when its best minds—doctors, scientists, and engineers—are leaving to build other economies?” he questioned.
The surge in migration, often referred to as the “Japa syndrome,” continues to fuel debates on Nigeria’s economic prospects and workforce sustainability.
