Canada approves thousands of Nigerian asylum claims with many still pending
Canada has accepted thousands of asylum claims from Nigerian nationals, with many more applications still awaiting decisions. According to the country’s Immigration and Refugee Board, Nigeria is among the top countries for asylum claims in Canada. The process involves a detailed assessment of each claim to determine eligibility for refugee protection. Successful claimants may apply for permanent residence, while those denied may face removal from the country.
What we know
- Canada accepted 3,463 asylum claims from Nigerian nationals in 2025, with 21,573 applications pending as of the end of the year.
- The Immigration and Refugee Board updated these figures on February 13.
- Nigerians filed 6,765 asylum claims, with 5,039 cases finalised, including 1,377 rejections, 46 abandoned, and 153 withdrawn or in other categories.
- The acceptance rate for Nigerian claims was about 68 per cent, higher than in previous years.
- As of December 31, 2025, 21,573 claims from Nigerians were still pending.
