Between January 2013 and December 2024, no fewer than 13,171 Nigerians seeking refugee protection in Canada had their claims rejected, according to data from the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).
Nigeria ranked fifth among countries with the highest number of rejected refugee claims, alongside Mexico (2,954), India (1,688), Haiti (982), and Colombia (723), according to a report by Sunday Punch.
The IRB grants refugee status to applicants who meet the United Nations’ definition of a Convention refugee, which is incorporated into Canadian law.
The 1951 UN Convention on Refugees defines refugees as individuals with a well-founded fear of persecution based on their race, nationality, religion, political beliefs, or membership in a particular social group.
These social groups can include sexual orientation, gender identity, being a woman, or individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
Applicants must also provide evidence of torture, threats to life, or the risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment if they are forced to return to their home country.
Typically, refugee claims are made when immigrants notify the Border Services Agency upon arrival at a Canadian port of entry or report to an immigration officer.
If a claim is deemed eligible, it is referred to the RPD to begin the refugee determination process.
During the period under review, 94 claims from Nigerian passport holders were abandoned, often due to:
Failure to submit the Basis of Claim Form on time
Inability to provide correct and current contact information
Non-attendance at refugee protection hearings
Additionally, 78 claims were withdrawn, meaning the applicants chose not to proceed with their requests. As of 2024, 19,889 claims from Nigerians were still pending.
The number of rejected claims fluctuated over the years:
2013 – 127 rejections
2014 – 241 rejections
2015 – 248 rejections
2016 – 476 rejections
2017 – 917 rejections
2018 – 1,777 rejections
2019 – 3,951 rejections (highest annual figure)
2020 – 1,770 rejections
2021 – 1,686 rejections
2022 – 728 rejections
2023 – 439 rejections
2024 – 811 rejections
Despite the high rejection rate, 10,580 Nigerians successfully obtained refugee protection over the past decade.
In 2024 alone, 2,230 Nigerians were granted asylum.
Nigeria ranked 8th among the top 10 countries with the highest number of accepted claims.
Other countries in the top 10 include:
Turkiye – 4,866 successful claims
Mexico – 4,363 successful claims
Colombia – 3,340 successful claims
Iran – 3,200 successful claims
Pakistan – 2,556 successful claims
Haiti – 2,211 successful claims
Afghanistan – 1,921 successful claims
Kenya – 1,653 successful claims
The number of successful Nigerian asylum claims has varied over the years:
2013 – Fewer than 20 approvals
2014 – 308 approvals
2015 – 394 approvals
2016 – 389 approvals
2017 – 764 approvals
2018 – 755 approvals
2019 – 1,733 approvals
2020 – 1,534 approvals
2021 – 2,302 approvals
2022 – 1,315 approvals
2024 – 2,230 approvals
While thousands of Nigerians continue to seek refugee status in Canada, the rejection rate remains significant.
With over 19,000 claims still pending, the outcome of these applications will determine future trends in Canada’s immigration policy toward Nigerian asylum seekers.
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