Canada deports 366 Nigerians, 974 others await removal

Canada has deported 366 Nigerian nationals between January and October 2025 as part of its most aggressive immigration enforcement campaign in more than a decade, according to official data from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

The figures also show that an additional 974 Nigerians are currently listed in Canada’s “removal-in-progress” inventory, meaning they are awaiting deportation at various stages of the process.

CBSA data indicates that deportations of Nigerians have fluctuated over the years. In 2019, 339 Nigerians were removed, a figure that dropped to 199 in 2022 amid pandemic-related disruptions and policy adjustments. However, deportations have surged again in 2025, placing Nigeria back among the top 10 nationalities affected by Canada’s removal operations.

The agency disclosed that the majority of deportees  about 83 per cent are failed refugee claimants whose applications were rejected after due process. Cases related to criminality account for approximately four per cent of removals, while the remaining deportations involve immigration violations such as overstaying visas or non-compliance with removal orders.

Overall, the CBSA is now removing close to 400 foreign nationals every week. Canada is projected to spend about 78 million Canadian dollars on deportation and removal operations during the 2024–2025 fiscal year, underscoring the scale of the enforcement drive.

The renewed crackdown reflects Canada’s stricter application of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, as authorities seek to reduce backlogs in the asylum system and reinforce compliance with immigration laws. The development has raised concerns among migrant communities, particularly Nigerians, who remain one of the largest African immigrant groups in Canada.