Canada deported 366 Nigerian nationals between January and October 2025, as the country ramped up its immigration enforcement, official data shows.
In addition, 974 Nigerians are currently listed as “removal in progress,” waiting to be deported.
Nigeria ranked ninth among the top 10 countries for deportations in 2025 and fifth for the number of people awaiting removal.
Deportations of Nigerians have fluctuated in recent years: 339 in 2019, 302 in 2020, 242 in 2021, and 199 in 2022. Nigeria was not in the top 10 in 2023 and 2024 but returned to the list in 2025 with an eight per cent increase compared to 2019.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) now removes nearly 400 foreign nationals weekly, the fastest pace in over a decade.
In the 2024–2025 fiscal year, 18,048 people were deported at an estimated cost of $78 million.
Most removals about 83 per cent are failed refugee claimants whose asylum applications were denied.
Criminal cases account for around four per cent. Canadian law recognises three types of removal orders: departure orders, exclusion orders (banning re-entry for one to five years), and deportation orders (permanent bans unless special permission is granted).
Authorities say stricter enforcement is part of efforts to meet immigration targets and address pressures on housing, labour, and border security.
An extra $30.5 million has been allocated over three years to boost removal efforts, alongside a $1.3 billion investment in border security.
Legal experts warn deportations could increase if proposed legislation, Bill C-12, passes.
The bill could permanently bar certain individuals from filing refugee claims in Canada.
Nigeria is the only African country in the top 10 for deportations and removals in progress.
Mexico leads the list with 3,972 deportations, followed by India (2,831), Haiti (2,012), Colombia (737), Romania (672), the United States (656), Venezuela (562), China (385), Nigeria (366), and Pakistan (359).
Despite the crackdown, Canada remains a popular destination for Nigerians. Over 40,000 Nigerians moved to Canada between 2016 and 2021, making them the largest African migrant group in that period. Between 2005 and 2024, more than 71,000 Nigerians obtained Canadian citizenship, ranking Nigeria among the top 10 source countries for new citizens.
Canada’s ageing population and labour shortages continue to attract skilled professionals and students, even as deportations rise.
