Canada: Asylum Grants for Nigerians 2024-2026 Reach 7,643

• Canada granted refugee protection to 7,643 Nigerian nationals between January 2024 and June 2026.
• Nigeria was the top African country for successful asylum claims in Canada during this period.
• During the same 30 months, 3,080 Nigerian asylum claims were rejected, and 1,530 were abandoned or withdrawn.
• As of December 31, 2024, nearly 20,000 Nigerian asylum cases were awaiting a decision from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.
• Nigerian grants represented 6.4% of all global refugee protection grants by Canada over the 30 months.

The high volume of successful grants (7,643 in 30 months) alongside the significant rejection rate (3,080) indicates the necessity for robust application preparation for those seeking asylum.

Canada extended refugee protection to 7,643 Nigerian nationals over a 30-month period, commencing in January 2024 and concluding in June 2026. This significant figure positions Nigeria as the leading African nation for successful asylum claims in Canada and places it among the top countries globally whose citizens receive such protection. The data, compiled by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) and specifically its Refugee Protection Division, offers a detailed insight into the outcomes of Nigerian asylum applications during this timeframe.

TheThe number of successful Nigerian refugee claims in Canada showed a notable increase in the initial years of the reporting period. In 2024, 2,230 claims were granted. This figure then saw a substantial 55% rise in 2025, reaching 3,463 successful applications. For the first six months of 2026 alone, an additional 1,950 Nigerians were granted asylum, contributing to the cumulative total.

While a substantial number of Nigerians received refugee status, Canadian authorities also rejected 3,080 asylum claims from Nigerian citizens within the same 30-month window. This means that approximately three out of every ten Nigerians whose cases were decided during this period were denied asylum. Furthermore, 1,530 Nigerian cases were either formally withdrawn by the applicants or deemed abandoned, bringing the total number of finalized Nigerian cases to 12,253.

A closer look at the annual statistics reveals the dynamics of these decisions. In 2024, the IRB finalized 3,249 Nigerian cases, with 2,230 resulting in acceptance and 811 in rejection, the remainder being abandoned or withdrawn. The year 2025 saw an increase in finalized cases to 5,039, where 3,463 claims were granted (representing 68.7% of finalized cases) and 1,377 were rejected. During the first half of 2026, out of 3,965 finalized Nigerian cases, 1,950 were granted and 892 were rejected. These Nigerian refugee claims Canada statistics highlight both the high volume of successful grants and the significant rejection rate, underscoring the need for robust application preparation.

Nigeria's success rate for Canada refugee protection Nigerians stands out when compared to other African nations. Over the 30 months, Uganda followed with 3,943 grants, then Kenya with 3,888, Ethiopia with 2,982, Ghana with 2,000, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with 1,867, Rwanda with 1,699, and Cameroon with 1,643. In terms of rejections, the DRC recorded the second-highest number after Nigeria with 1,230, followed by Ghana (885), Kenya (639), Senegal (595), Angola (442), Chad (343), and Cameroon (343).

Globally, Canada finalized 79,462 refugee claims in 2025, accepting 50,067. Nigerian grants accounted for 6.9% of these worldwide acceptances. In the first half of 2026, out of 49,960 global finalized claims, 22,109 were accepted, with Nigerian grants making up 8.8% of that total. Across the entire 30-month period, Canada processed 202,878 refugee claims from all nationalities, granting 118,656. Nigeria's 7,643 grants represented 6.4% of this global total. African countries collectively received approximately 35,000 grants, or 29.5% of the total, with Nigeria contributing about one in every five African grants made in Canada during this period. As of December 31, 2024, a substantial backlog of 19,889 Nigerian cases awaited a decision, a figure nearly six times the total cases finalized for Nigerians in that year.

The Canadian refugee determination system is overseen by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, an independent federal administrative tribunal established under the country's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The IRB's Refugee Protection Division is the specific body tasked with hearing and rendering decisions on all asylum claims. The detailed Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada data provides a critical benchmark for assessing the current landscape and potential outcomes for future claimants, particularly for those from Nigeria.

The consistent flow of decisions, both positive and negative, highlights the rigorous process involved in securing Canada refugee protection Nigerians. The high volume of successful grants (7,643 in 30 months) alongside the significant rejection rate (3,080) indicates the necessity for robust application preparation.

Lawyers advising Nigerian clients on Canadian asylum applications should be aware of the high volume of successful grants (7,643 in 30 months) but also the significant rejection rate (3,080), indicating the need for robust application preparation. The data provides a benchmark for assessing the current landscape and potential outcomes for future claimants.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH Newspaper