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Canada Deports 366 Nigerians, Nearly 1,000 More Await Removal

Published by admin on January 3rd, 2026.

Canada Deports 366 Nigerians, Nearly 1,000 More Await Removal

Canada deported 366 Nigerians between January and October 2025, marking one of the fastest enforcement drives in over a decade, according to official statistics from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) obtained by Saturday PUNCH. The data also shows that 974 Nigerians are currently in the “removal in progress” list, awaiting deportation.

Updated on November 25, 2025, the figures placed Nigeria ninth among the top 10 nationalities deported from Canada, with the country ranking fifth among those awaiting removal. Historical trends indicate fluctuations in Nigerian deportations over the years: 339 were removed in 2019, 302 in 2020, 242 in 2021, and 199 in 2022. While Nigeria did not appear in the top 10 for 2023 and 2024, it returned in 2025 with 366 removals—an eight per cent increase compared to 2019.

The deportations reflect Canada’s intensified immigration enforcement, with the CBSA now removing nearly 400 foreign nationals each week, the highest rate in more than ten years. In the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the agency deported 18,048 people at an estimated cost of $78 million. Under Canadian law, the CBSA must remove any foreign national with an enforceable removal order. Reasons for deportation include failed refugee claims, criminal convictions, misrepresentation, health concerns, and non-compliance with immigration rules. About 83 per cent of those deported are rejected asylum seekers, while criminality accounts for roughly four per cent.

Canadian removal orders fall into three categories: departure orders, requiring individuals to leave within 30 days; exclusion orders, barring re-entry for one to five years; and deportation orders, which permanently prevent return unless special permission is granted. The Canadian government says these measures aim to meet immigration targets and address pressures on housing, labour, and border security, with an additional $30.5 million allocated over three years for removals and $1.3 billion for border enhancements. Experts, including Aisling Bondy of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, warn that deportations could increase further if Bill C-12, also called the “border bill,” becomes law, as it would permanently block some individuals from filing refugee claims.

CBSA data also shows that Nigeria is the only African country in the top 10 for both deportations and removals in progress. In 2025, the top 10 countries for deportation were Mexico (3,972), India (2,831), Haiti (2,012), Colombia (737), Romania (672), the United States (656), Venezuela (562), China (385), Nigeria (366), and Pakistan (359). For those awaiting removal, the top 10 included India (6,515), Mexico (4,650), the United States (1,704), China (1,430), Nigeria (974), Colombia (895), Pakistan (863), Haiti (741), Brazil (650), and Chile (621).

Despite deportations, Canada continues to attract Nigerian migrants. The 2021 Canadian census recorded over 40,000 Nigerians arriving between 2016 and 2021, making them the fifth-largest recent immigrant group and the largest African migrant population in Canada. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada reported that 6,600 Nigerians obtained permanent residency in the first four months of 2024 alone, ranking them fourth among international newcomers. Between 2005 and 2024, more than 71,459 Nigerians became Canadian citizens, placing Nigeria tenth among countries contributing new citizens. Canada’s ageing population and labour shortages have made it an appealing destination for Nigerian students and skilled professionals seeking better opportunities.