CANADA has denied 1,596 asylum claims filed by Nigerian nationals so far in 2025, according to fresh data released by the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).
Figures obtained by News Point Nigeria show that as of August 21, 2025, Nigerians had filed 3,548 asylum claims, out of which 2,292 were approved, representing an acceptance rate of roughly 65 percent significantly higher than in previous years when cumulative rejections exceeded 13,000 applications.
Analysis by Maple Crest Law, a Canadian immigration law practice, earlier projected that Nigerian claims could exceed 3,455 this year, keeping the country among the top five sources of asylum seekers, alongside Mexico, India, Haiti, and Colombia.
According to immigration experts, Nigeria’s surge in asylum requests has been largely driven by a combination of insecurity particularly Boko Haram insurgency rising kidnapping cases, political instability, and economic hardship.
Ontario and Alberta provinces currently host the highest concentration of Nigerian asylum seekers, with Toronto and Calgary serving as major hubs for new arrivals.
Under Canadian law, the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) grants protection if an applicant satisfies the United Nations 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees definition of a refugee or qualifies as a “person in need of protection.”
This includes anyone facing a well-founded fear of persecution due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a specific social group including women, LGBTQ+ persons, and individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
Applicants must also prove they would face torture, risk to life, or cruel and unusual treatment if returned to their home country.
Typically, claims are initiated at Canadian ports of entry or reported to immigration officers after arrival. Eligible claims are then referred to the IRB’s RPD for hearings.
Official records show that 811 Nigerian asylum claims were rejected in 2024, while 2,230 were approved.
Between 2013 and 2024, Canada’s refugee board turned down 13,171 applications from Nigerians but granted protection to 10,580 applicants, consistently ranking Nigeria among the top five countries with the highest number of denials but also among the highest number of approvals.
2019 marked the highest rejection year with 3,951 denials, reflecting a period when irregular border crossings spiked.
The IRB has faced criticism in recent years for long delays and growing backlogs, with Canada receiving a record 173,000 asylum claims in 2024.
While 2025 has seen a slight decline in overall claims, application numbers remain well above pre-pandemic levels, with about 19,660 cases filed in the first two months alone.
Despite the rejections, Canada still granted refugee status to thousands of Nigerians, ranking the country 8th globally for the most accepted claims.
Other leading countries in approvals include Turkiye (4,866), Mexico (4,363), Colombia (3,340), Iran (3,200), Pakistan (2,556), Haiti (2,211), Afghanistan (1,921), and Kenya (1,653).
Immigration lawyers have warned that while the approval rate is relatively high, many Nigerians are failing to meet the evidentiary requirements to prove persecution or danger in their home country.
“The process is strict, evidence-based, and applicants must provide credible proof of the risk they face. Without that, the claim will be rejected,” said a Toronto-based immigration consultant.