Summary:
Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) granted asylum to 1,467 Nigerians between January 2023 and March 2024. This brings the total number of successful asylum claims by Nigerians to 11,370 since 2012, according to data from the IRB’s Refugee Protection Division.
The IRB grants refugee protection based on criteria established by the United Nations, which has been incorporated into Canadian law. Applicants must demonstrate a fear of persecution due to race, nationality, religion, political ideology, or membership in a particular social group, such as those based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or health conditions like HIV/AIDS. They must also provide evidence of the potential danger, including torture, risk to life, or the threat of cruel and unusual treatment if they return to their home country.
From January 2023 to March 2024, the IRB rejected 589 asylum applications from Nigerians, with over 12,600 total rejections since 2013. The acceptance rates have varied over the years, with significant numbers being granted asylum in the last decade.
Key Points:
- Accepted Asylum Claims: 1,467 Nigerians granted asylum from Jan 2023 to Mar 2024.
- Total Since 2012: 11,370 Nigerians have been granted asylum in Canada.
- Rejections: 589 applications were rejected in the same period, totaling over 12,600 since 2013.
- Asylum Criteria: Based on UN definitions and Canadian law, requiring proof of persecution or risk of harm.
Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi, Executive Director of the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, described the acceptance rate as fair, noting that irregular migration often leads to rejection.
