The Canadian government has deported 366 Nigerian nationals between January and October 2025, with an additional 974 Nigerians currently in the “removal in progress” pipeline, according to official data released in December 2025.
The figures, sourced from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) removals programme statistics updated on November 25, 2025, place Nigeria as the ninth most deported nationality from Canada this year. Furthermore, Nigeria holds the fifth position among nationalities with individuals awaiting removal.
This development occurs amidst Canada’s most aggressive immigration crackdown in over a decade, with the CBSA now removing close to 400 foreign nationals weekly.
The government has linked the drive to tightening immigration targets and addressing domestic concerns over housing shortages, labour market pressures, and border security.
A historical breakdown reveals deportation of Nigerians from Canada: 339 removals in 2019, 302 in 2020, 242 in 2021, 199 in 2022, and then falling off the top 10 list in 2023 and 2024. The 2025 figure of 366 in just ten months marks an 8% increase over 2019 and a return to the top 10.
Under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, individuals can be deemed inadmissible and face removal for reasons including criminality, security threats, misrepresentation, non-compliance with immigration rules, and failed asylum claims.
The vast majority of removals (approximately 83%) are failed refugee claimants, while criminality accounts for about 4%. Removal orders come in three forms: Departure Orders, which require leaving Canada within 30 days; Exclusion Orders, which bar re-entry for one to five years; and Deportation Orders, which permanently ban return without special authorization.
The increased enforcement comes against the backdrop of strong migration ties between Nigeria and Canada, a top source country for new immigrants, skilled professionals, and international students.
Over 40,000 Nigerians moved to Canada between 2016 and 2021, making them the fifth-largest recent immigrant group. In the first four months of 2024, Nigeria was the fourth-largest source of new permanent residents. Between 2005 and 2024, over 71,459 Nigerians obtained Canadian citizenship.
The Canadian government has allocated an additional $30.5 million over three years to bolster removal efforts, alongside a $1.3 billion commitment to enhance border security. Refugee advocates have expressed concern that deportations could accelerate further if proposed legislation, Bill C-12 (the ‘border bill’), passes, as it could permanently ban more individuals from filing refugee claims.
In the 2025 data, Nigeria is the only African nation featured in the top 10 for both deportations and the “removal in progress” inventory. Other African countries are grouped under “remaining nationals,” which accounted for 6,233 removals this year.
The top 10 source countries for removals in 2025 are: Mexico (3,972), India (2,831), Haiti (2,012), Colombia (737), Romania (672), United States (656), Venezuela (562), China (385), Nigeria (366), and Pakistan (359). For the “removal in progress” inventory, the list is led by India (6,515), followed by Mexico (4,650), the United States (1,704), China (1,430), Nigeria (974), Colombia (895), Pakistan (863), Haiti (741), Brazil (650), and Chile (621).
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