In 2023, Nigerians emerged as the largest group of African asylum seekers in Canada, according to recent data. They were followed by Kenyans, Congolese, Ugandans, Ethiopians, Ghanaians, and Senegalese. This statistic underscores the significant number of Nigerians seeking asylum abroad, reflecting challenges such as insecurity and economic instability back home.
Over the years from 2016 to 2023, a staggering 664,384 Nigerians sought asylum globally, with notable concentrations in countries like Niger, Cameroon, Chad, Italy, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Portugal. These figures highlight the widespread impact of issues such as banditry and insecurity, particularly in Nigeria’s northern regions, prompting citizens to seek refuge elsewhere.
In 2023 alone, 68,852 Nigerians applied for asylum, contributing to Canada’s significant intake of African asylum seekers during that year. This trend underscores the complex socio-political dynamics driving migration from Nigeria to other parts of the world.