Canada Rejects Asylum Applications from 13,000 Nigerians - Travel

According to a report by Sunday PUNCH, the Canadian government rejected no fewer than 13,171 Nigerians who sought refugee protection between January 2013 and December 2024. This figure includes 811 Nigerians denied asylum in 2024 alone.

Data from the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada indicates that Nigeria ranks fifth among the top five countries for rejected claims, following Mexico (2,954 rejections), India (1,688), Haiti (982), and Colombia (723). The Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) grants refugee protection only when the RPD can confirm, to a satisfactory degree, that an applicant meets the UN's definition of a Convention refugee—a definition that has been integrated into Canadian law—or that the applicant is in need of protection. According to the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, refugees are defined as individuals who have a well-founded fear of persecution due to their race, nationality, religion, political beliefs, or membership in a specific social group. Such social groups may include categories like sexual orientation, gender identity, women, and individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
Applicants seeking protection in Canada must demonstrate evidence of a threat of torture, a danger to their life, or the risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment if they were to return to their home country. Typically, protection claims are made when immigrants notify the Border Services Agency upon their arrival in Canada or report to an immigration officer. An officer will then determine whether the claim is eligible to be sent to the IRB. If deemed eligible, it gets referred to the RPD to begin the refugee protection process.

During the period in question, 94 claims from Nigerian applicants were abandoned, which can happen if the Basis of Claim Form isn't submitted timely, if accurate contact information is not provided, or if the claimant fails to attend required hearings. Additionally, 78 claims were withdrawn, indicating that those applicants chose not to pursue their claims, while 19,889 claims remained pending. Data on rejections since 2013 shows that 127, 241, and 248 Nigerians were denied protection in 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively, under the new refugee protection claim system that took effect on December 15, 2012. A total of 476, 917, and 1,777 claims were rejected in 2016, 2017, and 2018, respectively. The year 2019 saw the largest number of rejected claims, with 3,951 Nigerian applicants turned away. Subsequent years saw 1,770, 1,686, 728, 439, and 811 rejections in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively. On a more positive note, over the reviewed decade, a total of 10,580 Nigerians were granted refugee status, including at least 2,230 between January and December 2024. Nigeria is ranked eighth among the top ten countries for accepted claims, joined by Turkiye (4,866), Mexico (4,363), Colombia (3,340), Iran (3,200), Pakistan (2,556), Haiti (2,211), Afghanistan (1,921), and Kenya (1,653). The acceptance rates include fewer than 20 claims in 2013 and rises of 308, 394, and 389 in 2014 and 2015. Acceptance numbers continued to grow with 389, 764, 755, and 1,733 for the years 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively. In 2020, 2021, and 2022, 1,534, 2,302, and 1,315 Nigerians were granted protection, respectively. Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi, Executive Director of the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, noted that irregular migration driven by economic difficulties plays a significant role in asylum rejections. She asserted that those in genuine need of protection should still be accepted, regardless of the methods by which they enter their host country. Ladipo-Sanusi explained, "Many Nigerians often misunderstand the laws regarding refugee status in their destination country. Each nation has its own regulations for integrating individuals into its systems. Documentation is vital; entering irregularly can lead to denial of claims. Ultimately, every individual's rights must be upheld, and migration should occur in a safe, orderly, and regular manner." Development economist Aliyu Ilias expressed concern that a continuous exodus of skilled Nigerians to Canada leads to a deficit of human resources in the country. He argued that Nigeria incurs losses, particularly through the subsidized education provided to these professionals, only for them to utilize their skills abroad. "It's troubling that trained professionals, especially in sectors like medicine, often seek opportunities elsewhere. Obtaining qualifications overseas is generally far more expensive, making the situation a clear case of brain drain—ultimately impacting our GDP," Ilias stated. He cited that Nigerians in the diaspora remitted an average of $20 billion annually from 2019 to 2021, noting, "Perhaps the only silver lining is that these individuals send some of their earnings back home." On a different note, Deji Adeyanju, the convener of the civil society group Concerned Nigerians, cautioned against relying on remittances to fuel economic growth, arguing that the contributions of migrating professionals to the Nigerian economy far outweigh the benefits of financial remittances from abroad. "Can we actually develop our economy with mere tokenism? How can losing professionals be a good thing for any country?" he questioned. He added, "Our health sector is struggling. When our brightest minds leave to strengthen foreign economies, it's detrimental for our nation. Innovators, scientists, doctors, lawyers—all are departing. With the treatment our doctors and university lecturers receive, it's no wonder they leave. We've come to refer to this as the 'Japa syndrome.'"

Source:Punchng