Canada has granted asylum to at least 1,467 Nigerians who sought refugee protection from January 2023 to March 2024. This increase brings the total number of accepted asylum claims filed by Nigerians to 11,370 from 2012 through Q1 of 2024, according to data from Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board.
The Board confirms refugee protection when applicants meet the United Nations definition of a Convention refugee, which is embedded in Canadian law, or if they qualify as individuals in need of protection.
The 1951 UN Convention on the Status of Refugees outlines that refugees are individuals who possess a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, nationality, religion, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. This definition is vital for those seeking refuge in Canada.
Social groups identified under this definition can range from sexual orientation and gender identity to women and those affected by HIV/AIDS. Claimants must present substantial evidence of potential torture, threats to their life, or risks of cruel and unusual treatment if they return to their home country.
Typically, these claims are initiated when immigrants notify the Border Services Agency upon arrival in Canada or approach an immigration officer directly. If an officer deems the claim eligible, it is referred to the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) for further processing.
Despite these efforts, from January 2023 to March 2024, 589 applications from Nigerian citizens were rejected, contributing to a total of over 12,600 rejections since January 2013.
A breakdown reveals that asylum was granted to 20, 308, 394, and 389 Nigerians in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively. The subsequent years saw approvals of 389, 764, 755, and 1,733 in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. In the following three years, 1,534, 2,302, and 1,315 individuals received protection in 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively. In 2023, 1,086 Nigerians were accepted, with 381 additional approvals in Q1 of 2024.
Experts cite the acceptance rate as relatively fair, noting that irregular migration often contributes to claim rejections. With the ongoing challenges faced by asylum seekers, Canada’s immigration landscape remains a critical topic of discussion.
