No fewer than 13,171 Nigerians who applied for refugee protection in Canada between January 2013 and December 2024 had their claims rejected.
This figure includes 811 Nigerians whose claims were denied in 2024 alone.
According to data from the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB), Nigeria ranks among the top five countries with the highest number of rejected claims, placing 5th.
Other countries with high rejection rates include:
- Mexico – 2,954 rejections
- India – 1,688
- Haiti – 982
- Colombia – 723
The IRB grants refugee protection if an applicant meets the United Nations definition of a Convention refugee, which is incorporated into Canadian law.
The 1951 UN Convention defines refugees as individuals with a well-founded fear of persecution due to:
- Race
- Nationality
- Religion
- Political beliefs
- Membership in a particular social group
These social groups can include sexual orientation, gender identity, being a woman, and individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
Applicants seeking protection must also provide evidence of the risk of torture, threats to their life, or the possibility of cruel and unusual treatment if forced to return to their home country.
How Protection Claims Are Made
Refugee protection claims are typically made when immigrants notify the Border Services Agency upon arrival at any Canadian port of entry or report to an immigration officer.
“The officer decides whether the claim is eligible to be referred to the IRB. If eligible, it is sent to the RPD to start the refugee protection process,” according to an application guideline by the Refugee Board.
Abandoned and Withdrawn Claims
Between 2013 and 2024, data also revealed:
- 94 claims from Nigerians were abandoned.
- 78 claims were withdrawn by applicants.
- 19,889 claims were still pending.
A claim may be abandoned if:
- The Basis of Claim Form was not submitted on time.
- The claimant’s contact information was not updated.
- The claimant failed to attend their refugee protection hearing.
Breakdown of Nigerian Rejections (2013-2024)
Despite the high rejection rates, 10,580 Nigerians were granted refugee status in the past decade, including 2,230 successful claims in 2024.
Top 10 Countries With the Most Accepted Claims
Nigeria ranks 8th among countries with the highest number of approved refugee claims.
Other countries include:
- Turkiye – 4,866
- Mexico – 4,363
- Colombia – 3,340
- Iran – 3,200
- Pakistan – 2,556
- Haiti – 2,211
- Afghanistan – 1,921
- Kenya – 1,653
Breakdown of Nigerian Accepted Claims (2013-2024)
Despite rejections, a significant number of Nigerian asylum seekers continue to secure refugee status in Canada.
