Canada has deported 366 Nigerians between January and October 2025 as immigration enforcement in the country hits its highest level in more than a decade.
Official figures from the Canada Border Services Agency, CBSA, also show that 974 Nigerians are currently listed under “removal in progress” and are awaiting deportation from Canada.
The data, updated on November 25, 2025, revealed that Nigeria ranked ninth among the top 10 nationalities deported from Canada within the period under review. Nigeria also placed fifth among countries with the highest number of people awaiting removal.
A review of past records showed that the number of Nigerians deported from Canada has changed over the years.
In 2019, 339 Nigerians were removed. The figure dropped to 302 in 2020, fell further to 242 in 2021, and declined again to 199 in 2022.
Nigeria did not appear on Canada’s top 10 deportation list in 2023 and 2024 but returned in 2025, with 366 deportations recorded in just 10 months. This marks about an eight per cent increase compared to the 2019 figure.
The deportations are part of a wider immigration crackdown by Canadian authorities. The CBSA is now deporting close to 400 foreign nationals every week, the highest rate recorded in over 10 years.
In the 2024–2025 fiscal year, Canada removed 18,048 people and spent an estimated $78m on deportation operations.
Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the CBSA is required by law to remove any foreign national who has an enforceable removal order.
People can be declared inadmissible for several reasons, including security concerns, human or international rights violations, criminal offences, organised crime, health issues, financial reasons, false information, or failure to comply with immigration rules.
CBSA data showed that failed refugee claimants make up the largest group affected, accounting for about 83 per cent of all removals. Criminal-related cases represent around four per cent.
Canadian law recognises three types of removal orders. Departure orders require individuals to leave within 30 days. Exclusion orders prevent re-entry for between one and five years. Deportation orders permanently ban individuals from returning unless special approval is granted.
The Canadian government said it is tightening immigration controls to meet new targets and reduce pressure on housing, jobs, and border security.
To support this effort, Canada approved an extra $30.5m over three years to strengthen removal activities, alongside a $1.3bn investment aimed at improving border security.
However, concerns have been raised about the impact of tougher policies on migrants and asylum seekers.
President of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, Aisling Bondy, warned that deportations could rise further if proposed legislation becomes law.
“One of the clauses in that bill is that a lot of people will be permanently banned from filing a refugee claim in Canada,” Bondy said, referring to Bill C-12, also known as the border bill.
An analysis of the 2025 CBSA figures showed that Nigeria is the only African country listed among the top 10 nationalities deported from Canada this year. Other African countries were grouped under “remaining nationals,” which accounted for 6,233 removals.
The top countries for deportation in 2025 are Mexico with 3,972 removals, India with 2,831, Haiti with 2,012, Colombia with 737, Romania with 672, the United States with 656, Venezuela with 562, China with 385, Nigeria with 366, and Pakistan with 359.
Nigeria is also the only African country listed among the top 10 for people awaiting removal. The list is led by India with 6,515 cases, followed by Mexico with 4,650, the United States with 1,704, China with 1,430, Nigeria with 974, Colombia with 895, Pakistan with 863, Haiti with 741, Brazil with 650, and Chile with 621.
Despite the rising deportation numbers, Canada remains a major destination for Nigerians seeking better education, jobs, and living conditions.
The 2021 Canadian census showed that more than 40,000 Nigerians migrated to Canada between 2016 and 2021. This made Nigerians the fifth-largest group of recent immigrants and the largest African migrant population in the country.
Further data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada showed that 6,600 Nigerians became new permanent residents in the first four months of 2024. This placed Nigeria fourth, behind India, the Philippines, and China.
Between 2005 and 2024, a total of 71,459 Nigerians obtained Canadian citizenship, ranking Nigeria 10th among countries whose citizens became Canadians during that period.
Canada’s ageing population and shortage of skilled workers have continued to attract professionals and students from Nigeria, even as immigration rules grow stricter.
