Canada deported 366 Nigerians between January and October 2025 as the country stepped up immigration enforcement at its fastest pace in more than a decade, according to official removal statistics.
The data also shows that 974 Nigerians are currently listed in Canada’s “removal-in-progress” inventory, meaning their deportation processes are ongoing.
Nigeria ranked ninth among the top 10 nationalities deported from Canada during the period under review, while it placed fifth among countries with the highest number of persons awaiting removal.
Fluctuating Deportation Trend
Nigerian deportations from Canada have varied over the years. In 2019, 339 Nigerians were removed, a figure that declined to 302 in 2020, 242 in 2021, and 199 in 2022. Nigeria did not appear among the top 10 deported nationalities in 2023 and 2024.
However, the country returned to the list in 2025, with 366 deportations recorded within just 10 months—an increase of about eight per cent compared to 2019.
Aggressive Enforcement Drive
The rise in deportations coincides with a broader immigration crackdown by Canadian authorities. Canada is currently removing nearly 400 foreign nationals each week, the highest rate in over 10 years.
In the 2024–2025 fiscal year alone, Canada removed 18,048 individuals at an estimated cost of $78 million. The removals are carried out under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which mandates the enforcement of removal orders against foreign nationals deemed inadmissible.
Reasons for inadmissibility include non-compliance with immigration rules, misrepresentation, security concerns, criminality, health issues, and financial grounds. About 83 per cent of those removed are failed refugee claimants whose asylum applications were denied, while criminal-related cases account for roughly four per cent.
Removal Orders Explained
Canadian law recognises three types of removal orders:
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Departure orders, requiring individuals to leave within 30 days;
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Exclusion orders, which bar re-entry for one to five years; and
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Deportation orders, which permanently prohibit return unless special authorisation is granted.
Nigeria Only African Country in Top 10
Nigeria is the only African country featured among the top 10 nationalities for deportations in 2025. Other African countries are grouped under “remaining nationals,” which collectively accounted for 6,233 removals during the year.
The top 10 countries for removals in 2025 are Mexico, India, Haiti, Colombia, Romania, the United States, Venezuela, China, Nigeria, and Pakistan.
A similar pattern appears in the removal-in-progress list, where Nigeria is again the only African country in the top 10, with 974 cases. The list is led by India, followed by Mexico, the United States, China, and Nigeria.
Canada Still a Major Destination for Nigerians
Despite the rising deportations, Canada remains a popular destination for Nigerians. Census and immigration data show that Nigerians are among the largest recent immigrant groups and the leading African migrant population in Canada.
Thousands of Nigerians continue to obtain permanent residency and citizenship annually, driven by Canada’s ageing population, labour shortages, and demand for skilled workers and international students.
However, with tighter immigration targets, increased funding for removals, and proposed legislative changes that could further restrict refugee claims, deportations are expected to remain high in the coming years.
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