Canada deported 366 Nigerian nationals between January and October 2025, according to official figures released by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), reflecting a sharp rise in removals amid heightened immigration enforcement.
The data, last updated on November 25, 2025, also shows that 974 Nigerians are currently marked as “removal in progress,” indicating they are awaiting deportation under ongoing enforcement actions.
Nigeria ranked ninth among countries whose citizens were deported during the period and fifth among those with the largest backlog of pending removals, making it the only African country to appear in both categories.
A review of historical trends highlights fluctuating deportation figures. In 2019, Canada removed 339 Nigerians, a number that declined to 199 by 2022. By 2025, Nigeria had returned to the top 10 list, driven by the recent surge in enforcement.
The uptick coincides with a broader CBSA push that has seen nearly 400 foreign nationals removed each week—the fastest pace recorded in more than a decade. During the 2024–2025 fiscal year alone, Canadian authorities carried out 18,048 removals, at an estimated cost of about $78 million.
Under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the CBSA is mandated to execute removal orders against foreign nationals found inadmissible. Grounds for removal include failed refugee claims, criminal convictions, misrepresentation, and non-compliance with immigration regulations. CBSA statistics indicate that failed refugee claims account for the majority of deportations, while cases linked to criminality represent a smaller proportion.
Immigration advocates have raised concerns over the rising numbers, warning that deportations could increase further if proposed legislation aimed at tightening refugee claim procedures is passed.
Despite the intensified enforcement, Canada continues to attract Nigerian migrants. The 2021 Canadian census recorded more than 40,000 Nigerian immigrants between 2016 and 2021, with tens of thousands more having since obtained permanent residency or Canadian citizenship.
