Canada deported at least 366 Nigerians between January and October 2025, as the country ramped up immigration enforcement at its fastest rate in over a decade, official figures show.
Data from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) also indicate that 974 Nigerians are currently listed under “removal in progress,” awaiting deportation. The statistics, last updated on November 25, 2025, place Nigeria ninth among the top 10 countries whose nationals were removed from Canada during this period. Nigeria also ranks fifth among nationalities with the highest number of people awaiting removal.
Historically, Nigerian deportations have fluctuated. In 2019, 339 Nigerians were removed, followed by 302 in 2020, 242 in 2021, and 199 in 2022. Nigeria did not feature among the top 10 deported nationalities in 2023 and 2024 but returned to the list in 2025, marking an eight percent increase compared to 2019.
The surge coincides with a broader crackdown by Canadian authorities, who are now deporting nearly 400 foreign nationals per week, the highest rate in over a decade. In the 2024–2025 fiscal year, Canada removed 18,048 individuals at an estimated cost of $78 million.
Under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the CBSA is mandated to remove any foreign national with an enforceable removal order. Reasons for deportation include criminality, security concerns, misrepresentation, health issues, financial instability, or failure to comply with immigration rules. CBSA data shows that about 83 percent of deportees are failed refugee claimants, while criminal cases account for roughly four percent.
Canadian law recognises three types of removal orders:
- Departure orders: requiring individuals to leave within 30 days
- Exclusion orders: barring re-entry for one to five years
- Deportation orders: permanently prohibiting return unless special authorisation is granted
Among African nations, Nigeria is the only country listed in the top 10 deportation statistics. Other African countries were grouped together, accounting for 6,233 removals. In 2025, the top countries for deportations 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).
The top nationalities under “removal in progress” are India (6,515), Mexico (4,650), the United States (1,704), China (1,430), and Nigeria (974). Canadian authorities say the intensified deportation drive aims to meet revised immigration targets and ease pressures related to housing, labour shortages, and border security. The government has allocated an additional $30.5 million over three years for removals and $1.3 billion for border security.
Refugee advocates have raised concerns about the impact of tighter policies. Aisling Bondy, President of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, warned that deportations could rise further if Bill C-12, widely known as the “border bill,” is passed, as it would permanently bar many individuals from making refugee claims in Canada.
Despite stricter enforcement, Canada remains a major destination for Nigerians seeking education, employment, and better living standards. The 2021 Canadian census showed that more than 40,000 Nigerians migrated to Canada between 2016 and 2021, making them the largest African migrant group and the fifth-largest recent immigrant population.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada data also indicate that 6,600 Nigerians became permanent residents in the first four months of 2024, ranking fourth behind India, the Philippines, and China. Between 2005 and 2024, over 71,000 Nigerians acquired Canadian citizenship, placing Nigeria among the top 10 source countries for new Canadian citizens.
Canada’s ageing population and ongoing labour shortages continue to attract skilled Nigerian professionals and students, even as immigration controls tighten.