Amanze Chinonye
Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) has denied 1,596 asylum claims filed by Nigerian nationals so far in 2025, according to figures updated in August 21, 2025 on the IRB’s Claims by Country of Alleged Persecution table.
The same data show that Nigerians submitted 3,548 claims in the period, with 2,292 accepted and the remainder pending, giving Nigeria an acceptance rate of roughly 65 per cent higher than in many previous years. More than 21,000 Nigerian claims remain undecided, underscoring the heavy backlog in Canada’s refugee determination system.
The latest numbers continue a decade-long trend that places Nigeria among the top sources of asylum seekers to Canada. Between 2013 and 2024, the IRB rejected 13,171 Nigerian claims and accepted 10,580, including 811 rejections and 2,230 approvals in 2024 alone. Although this year’s acceptance rate is comparatively stronger, the sheer volume of claims combined with a large pipeline of unresolved cases illustrates the pressure on Canada’s asylum infrastructure.
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Analyses by Canadian immigration lawyers point to a mix of Boko Haram–related violence and economic instability as key factors pushing Nigerians to seek refuge abroad.
Nigeria consistently ranks alongside Mexico, India, Haiti and Colombia among the countries generating the highest number of claims. Ontario hosts the largest concentration of applicants, followed by Alberta, reflecting the provinces’ established Nigerian communities and access to settlement services.
Under Canadian law, the Refugee Protection Division grants status only if applicants meet the United Nations definition of a refugee or are deemed persons in need of protection, which requires credible evidence of persecution, torture, risk to life or cruel and unusual treatment if returned home.
Many Nigerians struggle to provide the documentation needed to substantiate these fears. In a report by Punch, Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi, executive director of the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, said economic hardship often drives irregular migration and contributes to rejections. “Documentation is crucial because coming irregularly will get you rejected from their system,” she noted, while stressing that “those who really need protection should be protected.”
For Canada, the numbers highlight a double challenge: protecting genuine refugees while managing an overloaded process that leaves thousands in limbo.
For Nigeria, they reflect deep socio-economic pressures that continue to drive outward migration despite the high risk of refusal. And for individual claimants, the figures mean that even with a relatively high acceptance rate, the path to safety remains long, uncertain and demanding.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
