Canada rejects asylum claims from 13,000 Nigerians
Canada rejects asylum claims from 13,000 Nigerians.
The Canadian government rejected refugee protection claims from at least 13,171 Nigerians between January 2013 and December 2024, with 811 rejections occurring in 2024 alone.
According to official data from the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Nigeria ranks fifth among the countries with the highest number of rejected claims. The other top countries include Mexico with 2,954 rejections, India with 1,688, Haiti with 982, and Colombia with 723.
Under Canadian law, refugee protection is granted if the RPD finds that an applicant meets the United Nations definition of a Convention refugee, which encompasses individuals with a legitimate fear of persecution based on race, nationality, religion, political beliefs, or membership in a particular social group. This includes marginalized groups defined by sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, or conditions like HIV/AIDS.
To receive protection, applicants must provide evidence indicating potential dangers such as torture, threats to their life, or inhumane treatment if returned to their country. Protection claims are typically initiated when immigrants inform the Border Services Agency upon entry to Canada or report to an immigration officer, who assesses the claim’s eligibility for referral to the IRB.
In the period studied, 94 claims from Nigerian applicants were abandoned, often due to late submission of necessary documents or failure to attend hearings. Additionally, 78 claims were withdrawn, meaning those individuals decided not to continue their claims. As of now, 19,889 claims remain pending.
The data reveals that rejections for Nigerian applicants occurred as follows under the new refugee protection system established on December 15, 2012: 127 in 2013, 241 in 2014, and 248 in 2015.
