A fresh wave of deportations is putting hundreds of Nigerians at risk of being sent back home, as Canadian authorities intensify efforts to enforce immigration laws. The development highlights growing pressure on foreign nationals amid tighter border policies.
Nearly 1,000 Nigerians are currently facing the possibility of deportation from Canada, following fresh data released by the country’s immigration enforcement authorities.
According to figures from the Canada Border Services Agency CBSA, at least 974 Nigerian nationals are now listed under Canada’s removal in progress category. This status indicates that deportation procedures have already been initiated, although final actions are yet to be concluded.
The data further show that deportations of Nigerians have increased steadily over the course of 2025. Between January and October, no fewer than 366 Nigerians were removed from Canada. A breakdown of the figures reveals that the majority of those deported approximately 83 per cent were unsuccessful refugee claimants whose applications had been denied. Only a small fraction estimated at around four per cent were removed due to criminal convictions.
Canadian immigration regulations require individuals issued with enforceable removal orders to leave the country once all legal appeals have been exhausted.
Despite the growing number of deportations, Canada continues to be a major destination for Nigerians, ranking just behind the United Kingdom and the United States. Records indicate that over 71,000 Nigerians obtained Canadian citizenship between 2005 and 2024, while thousands more relocate to the country each year through student visas, work permits and permanent residency programmes.
In 2025, Nigeria emerged as the only African country listed among the top ten nationalities deported from Canada, placing ninth overall. The country also ranks fifth among nations with the highest number of citizens currently awaiting removal.
This development represents a notable shift from previous years. Nigeria did not feature on Canada’s top ten deportation list in 2023 or 2024, highlighting the scale of the recent increase.
During the 2024 to 2025 fiscal year, Canadian authorities deported 18,048 foreign nationals at an estimated cost of 78 million dollars. Officials say the intensified enforcement is part of a broader immigration strategy aimed at tightening admission targets, easing pressure on housing and employment and strengthening border security.
To support these measures, the Canadian government has approved additional funding, including 30.5 million dollars earmarked specifically for removals and 1.3 billion dollars allocated to border enforcement initiatives.
Meanwhile, immigration experts have warned that deportation numbers could rise even further if Bill C 12 is passed into law. The proposed legislation could introduce stricter rules including permanent bans on certain refugee claims, significantly reshaping Canada’s immigration landscape.
