New figures from Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board reveal that 1,596 asylum applications from Nigerian nationals were rejected in the first eight months of 2025, even as the country approved more than two-thirds of the claims filed, reflecting a mix of humanitarian successes and ongoing challenges in the migration process.

Data updated to August 21 shows that Nigerians submitted 3,548 asylum claims between January and August, with 2,292 granted protection – an acceptance rate of about 65 percent. This marks an improvement over prior years, when rejection rates for Nigerian claims often topped 70 percent, contributing to a cumulative total of 13,171 denials from 2013 to 2024. In 2024 alone, 811 claims were rejected while 2,230 were approved, placing Nigeria consistently among the top five countries for asylum volumes and denials.

The surge in applications stems from a combination of factors, including persistent violence from groups like Boko Haram in northern Nigeria and broader economic pressures such as high unemployment and inflation. An early 2025 analysis by Maple Crest Law, a Canadian immigration firm, estimated 3,455 Nigerian claims by mid-year, ranking the country alongside Mexico, India, Haiti, and Colombia as major sources of asylum seekers. Ontario and Alberta have emerged as the primary destinations, hosting the bulk of arrivals.

Under Canadian law, the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board evaluates claims based on the 1951 United Nations Convention on Refugees, which defines eligibility for those fearing persecution due to race, nationality, religion, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group – including categories like sexual orientation, gender identity, women facing gender-based violence, or individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Applicants must also demonstrate risks of torture, cruel treatment, or life-threatening harm if returned home. Claims typically begin at ports of entry, where Canada Border Services Agency officers assess eligibility before referring cases to the RPD for hearings.

Rejections have fluctuated over the years: 127 in 2013, rising to 476 in 2016, peaking at 3,951 in 2019 amid global migration pressures, and settling at 811 in 2024. Despite the denials, Canada has granted refugee status to 10,580 Nigerians since 2013, ranking the country eighth among top recipients last year, behind nations like Turkiye (4,866 approvals), Mexico (4,363), and Colombia (3,340). Overall asylum claims in Canada hit a record 173,000 in 2024 but dipped slightly to 19,660 in the first two months of 2025, still well above pre-pandemic levels of around 50,000 annually.

The system's backlog has drawn scrutiny, with 291,975 pending claims as of July 2025, leading to processing delays that can stretch months or years. Experts note that irregular migration – entering without proper documentation – often leads to ineligibility, as Canadian rules require claims to be made at official ports or inland offices.