Canada is ramping up deportations, and Nigeria just cracked the top ten list. Official data shows 366 Nigerians were deported in just the first ten months of 2025, with another 974 currently in the removal process, as the country executes its fastest immigration enforcement push in more than ten years. The figures place Nigeria as the ninth highest nationality for deportations this year and fifth for pending removals.
This marks a return to the top ten after a two-year absence. Deportations of Nigerians had been falling since 2019, dropping from 339 that year to just 199 in 2022. The 2025 number represents an eight percent increase over the 2019 figure. The broader enforcement drive has the Canada Border Services Agency removing close to 400 foreign nationals each week. The agency spent about 78 million dollars removing over 18,000 people in the last fiscal year.
Individuals face removal for reasons like criminality, health issues, or misrepresentation, but the vast majority, about 83 percent, are failed refugee claimants. Canadian law issues different orders, from departure notices requiring a 30-day exit to permanent deportation bans. The government links the intensified effort to managing immigration targets, housing shortages, and border security, backed by extra funding for removals and border enhancement.
Refugee lawyers express concern that proposed legislation could permanently ban more people from seeking asylum, potentially increasing deportation rates. Among the top countries for deportations in 2025, Nigeria stands alone as the only African nation listed. Other African countries are grouped into a broader category, accounting for thousands of removals.
Despite the enforcement, Canada remains a major destination for Nigerian migrants. Recent census data indicates over 40,000 Nigerians moved there in a five-year period, forming the largest group of African migrants. Thousands continue to obtain permanent residency and citizenship, drawn by labour needs and an ageing Canadian population.
This marks a return to the top ten after a two-year absence. Deportations of Nigerians had been falling since 2019, dropping from 339 that year to just 199 in 2022. The 2025 number represents an eight percent increase over the 2019 figure. The broader enforcement drive has the Canada Border Services Agency removing close to 400 foreign nationals each week. The agency spent about 78 million dollars removing over 18,000 people in the last fiscal year.
Individuals face removal for reasons like criminality, health issues, or misrepresentation, but the vast majority, about 83 percent, are failed refugee claimants. Canadian law issues different orders, from departure notices requiring a 30-day exit to permanent deportation bans. The government links the intensified effort to managing immigration targets, housing shortages, and border security, backed by extra funding for removals and border enhancement.
Refugee lawyers express concern that proposed legislation could permanently ban more people from seeking asylum, potentially increasing deportation rates. Among the top countries for deportations in 2025, Nigeria stands alone as the only African nation listed. Other African countries are grouped into a broader category, accounting for thousands of removals.
Despite the enforcement, Canada remains a major destination for Nigerian migrants. Recent census data indicates over 40,000 Nigerians moved there in a five-year period, forming the largest group of African migrants. Thousands continue to obtain permanent residency and citizenship, drawn by labour needs and an ageing Canadian population.
