More than 13,171 Nigerians who applied for refugee protection in Canada between January 2013 and December 2024 were rejected, according to official data from the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.
According to The PUNCH, Nigeria ranked among the top five countries with the highest number of refugee claims denied, coming in fifth place. Other nations on the list include Mexico (2,954 rejections), India (1,688), Haiti (982), and Colombia (723).
The Canadian government grants refugee status to individuals who meet the United Nations’ definition of a refugee, which includes those facing persecution due to their race, nationality, religion, political beliefs, or membership in a specific social group. Social groups eligible for protection include individuals at risk due to their gender identity, sexual orientation, or health status, such as those living with HIV/AIDS.
Records show that in 2024 alone, 811 Nigerians had their refugee applications turned down. The highest number of denials occurred in 2019, with 3,951 cases rejected. Other rejections over the years include, 2013: 127, 2014: 241, 2015: 248, 2016: 476, 2017: 917, 2018: 1,777, 2020: 1,770, 2021: 1,686, 2022: 728, 2023: 439.
Additionally, 94 Nigerian applications were abandoned, while 78 others were withdrawn. As of the latest review, 19,889 claims remain pending.
Applicants seeking asylum in Canada must provide proof of the risks they face, such as torture, threats to life, or inhumane treatment if they return to their home country. The process begins when claimants notify the Border Services Agency upon arrival or report to an immigration officer. If their case is deemed eligible, it is referred to the RPD for consideration.
Despite the high rejection rate, 10,580 Nigerians were granted refugee status over the past decade. In 2024, at least 2,230 applicants were approved, placing Nigeria eighth among countries with the most successful refugee claims.
Other nations with high acceptance rates include, Turkiye: 4,866, Mexico: 4,363, Colombia: 3,340, Iran: 3,200, Pakistan: 2,556, Haiti: 2,211, Afghanistan: 1,921, Kenya: 1,653
Speaking on the issue, Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi, Executive Director of the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, noted that economic hardship is a key factor behind the high number of rejected applications.
“Many Nigerians fail to understand the refugee laws of their destination countries,” she explained. “Documentation is crucial. Entering a country irregularly often leads to rejection. However, those who genuinely need protection should not be denied, regardless of how they arrived.”
Development economist Aliyu Ilias expressed concern over the long-term effects of skilled migration on Nigeria’s economy.
“Our professionals are leaving, and it costs a lot to train them,” he said. “Medical education, for example, is heavily subsidized in Nigeria. Losing these professionals means a significant brain drain, which reduces our GDP. Many of them do not return after gaining permanent residency abroad.”
Citing reports that Nigerians abroad remitted an average of $20 billion annually from 2019 to 2021, Ilias acknowledged the economic benefits of remittances. However, he argued that this does not offset the loss of skilled labor.
Meanwhile, Deji Adeyanju, Convener of the civil society group Concerned Nigerians, criticized the reliance on diaspora remittances.
“So, can we develop our economy with tokenism?” he asked. “How can professionals leaving a country be a good thing? The health sector is struggling, yet doctors, university lecturers, and other skilled workers are migrating. It’s what we now call the ‘Japa syndrome.’”
