Canadian authorities have intensified immigration enforcement, deporting 366 Nigerian nationals between January and October 2025—the highest number in over a decade. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) also reports that nearly 1,000 additional Nigerians are awaiting deportation under “removal in progress” status.
As of November 25, 2025, Nigeria ranks ninth among countries whose citizens were deported from Canada and fifth among nations with the highest number of pending removals. Historical trends show fluctuating numbers: in 2019, 339 Nigerians were deported, dropping to 199 by 2022, and absent from the top 10 in 2023 and 2024. The 2025 figures mark a sharp resurgence with an 8% increase compared to 2019.
Canada now removes nearly 400 foreign nationals weekly, the most aggressive enforcement recorded in more than ten years. During the 2024–2025 fiscal year, authorities deported 18,048 individuals at an estimated $78 million cost. Deportation orders are issued under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for reasons including criminal offences, security threats, misrepresentation, health issues, or violations of immigration laws.
CBSA data indicate that 83% of deported Nigerians were failed asylum seekers, while roughly 4% were removed due to criminal activities. Canada categorizes removal orders into departure orders (exit within 30 days), exclusion orders (one to five-year re-entry ban), and deportation orders (permanent ban unless special permission is granted).
In 2025, Nigeria was the only African nation among the top 10 deported nationalities. Other African countries were grouped collectively as “remaining nationals,” contributing 6,233 removals. Leading deportation numbers were recorded from Mexico (3,972), India (2,831), Haiti (2,012), Colombia (737), Romania (672), the U.S. (656), Venezuela (562), China (385), Nigeria (366), and Pakistan (359). Nigeria also had the highest number of “removal-in-progress” cases among African countries, with 974 individuals awaiting deportation.
Aisling Bondy, president of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, warned that deportations could increase further if proposed border legislation passes, which may permanently block many from filing future refugee claims.
Despite the deportation surge, Canada remains a prime destination for Nigerians seeking education, employment, and better living conditions. The 2021 Canadian census recorded over 40,000 Nigerians migrating between 2016 and 2021, making them the largest African immigrant group and the fifth-largest recent immigrant population.
Additionally, 6,600 Nigerians gained permanent residency in the first four months of 2024, ranking fourth behind India, the Philippines, and China. Between 2005 and 2024, at least 71,459 Nigerians became Canadian citizens, placing the country tenth among nations producing new citizens. Canada’s ageing workforce and labour shortages continue to drive demand for skilled Nigerian professionals and students, maintaining strong migration interest despite enforcement measures.
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