At least 13,171 Nigerians who sought refugee protection in Canada between January 2013 and December 2024 had their claims rejected, according to official data from the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).
The latest statistics reveal that 811 Nigerians were denied asylum in 2024 alone, placing Nigeria among the top five countries with the highest number of rejected claims. Others on the list include Mexico (2,954), India (1,688), Haiti (982), and Colombia (723).
Despite the high rejection rate, Nigeria also ranked among the top 10 countries with successful claims, securing the eighth position with 10,580 approvals in the past decade. In 2024, at least 2,230 Nigerians were granted refugee status, underscoring the complex nature of asylum applications.
Why Nigerians Are Being Rejected
Canada grants refugee protection based on strict criteria that align with the United Nations Convention on Refugees. Applicants must prove a well-founded fear of persecution due to race, nationality, religion, political ideology, or social group membership. Claims can also be accepted if the applicant faces the risk of torture, life-threatening danger, or cruel and inhumane treatment upon return to their home country.
However, many Nigerian applicants struggle to meet these conditions. The Executive Director of the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi, attributed the high rejection rate to economic migration disguised as asylum claims.
“Many Nigerians misunderstand the laws governing refugee status in their destination countries. Irregular migration, lack of documentation, and weak claims often lead to rejection,” she said.
The data also showed that 94 Nigerian claims were abandoned due to failure to submit required documentation or attend hearings, while 78 were withdrawn by the applicants. Meanwhile, nearly 20,000 claims are still pending.
The Economic Impact of Migration
Beyond asylum applications, Nigeria is facing an increasing outflow of skilled professionals, raising concerns about the long-term economic impact. Development economist Aliyu Ilias warned that the “brain drain” phenomenon is weakening key sectors like healthcare and engineering, where the government invests heavily in subsidized education.
“It’s a major loss for the country because we are training professionals who leave to contribute to other economies,” Ilias explained. “Medical and engineering education in Nigeria is heavily subsidized. If these professionals migrate permanently, it drains our GDP and national workforce.”
Between 2019 and 2021, Nigerians in the diaspora sent home an average of $20 billion annually, providing some economic relief. However, critics argue that remittances cannot replace the economic value lost when skilled professionals migrate.
Deji Adeyanju, Convener of Concerned Nigerians, described the mass exodus as a crisis, not an economic opportunity.
“The idea that we should be happy about remittances while losing our brightest minds is absurd,” Adeyanju said. “Doctors, engineers, scientists, and lecturers are leaving in droves because the system has failed them. How can Nigeria develop when its best brains are building other countries?”
The ‘Japa’ Syndrome and the Future
The “Japa syndrome”—a slang term for the increasing trend of Nigerians seeking opportunities abroad—remains a growing challenge. While Canada has become a popular destination, the rising rejection rates indicate that many Nigerians may need to explore alternative pathways such as skilled migration programs rather than seeking asylum.
With thousands of pending applications and Canada tightening its immigration policies, Nigeria’s struggle with migration, brain drain, and economic instability continues to be a pressing issue.
