OTTAWA, Canada – The Canadian government has denied refugee protection to at least 11,921 Nigerians who applied between January 2013 and December 2022, according to data obtained from the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).
The IRB grants refugee protection if the RPD can confirm that an applicant meets the United Nations’ definition of a Convention refugee or is a person in need of protection. This includes individuals fearing persecution due to their race, nationality, religion, political beliefs, or membership in a specific social group.
To qualify for protection in Canada, applicants must provide evidence of potential torture, life-threatening risks, or the possibility of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment in their home country.
Claims for refugee protection typically begin when immigrants inform the Border Services Agency upon arrival in Canada or report to an immigration officer. The officer then decides whether to refer the claim to the IRB.
However, the RPD has rejected about 12,000 Nigerian applications in the past decade. The highest number of rejected claims occurred in 2019, with 3,951 Nigerian applicants turned down. In contrast, a total of 9,494 Nigerians were granted refugee status within the same period.
Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi, executive director of the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, stated that while the 9,000 out of 12,000 acceptance rate is fair, irregular migration is often the primary reason for rejections.
Ladipo-Sanusi added, “Most times, many Nigerians miss it when they don’t understand the laws governing refugee status as adopted in their chosen destination. Every country has its regulations for absorbing people into its system.”
