Nigeria has become the sole African nation on Canada’s primary deportation list, with 366 Nigerians deported from January to October 2025, as Canada accelerates its immigration enforcement efforts at the fastest rate seen in over a decade.
Data from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) indicates that there are currently 974 Nigerians scheduled for removal, with their deportation processes already underway.
Nigeria ranks ninth among the top 10 countries whose citizens have been deported from Canada in 2025 and is the only African nation on both the deportation list and the list of those in the removal process.
Historical records show a shift in the number of Nigerian deportations over the years. In 2019, 339 Nigerians were deported, which decreased to 302 in 2020, 242 in 2021, and 199 in 2022.
Nigeria did not feature in the top ten deportation list in 2023 and 2024 but made a significant comeback in 2025 with 366 removals in just 10 months, marking an increase compared to previous years.
This surge is attributed to Canada’s stringent immigration enforcement. The CBSA is now deporting nearly 400 individuals weekly, the highest rate in over ten years.
In the fiscal year from 2024 to 2025, Canada deported 18,048 people, incurring approximately $78 million in costs.
According to Canadian law, any foreign national with a valid removal order is required to leave the country.
Deportations can occur for various reasons, including criminal activity, providing false information, violating immigration regulations, security issues, health concerns, or unsuccessful asylum applications.
Approximately 83 percent of those deported are individuals whose refugee claims were denied, while criminal cases account for about four percent.
Canadian law recognizes three types of removal orders: a departure order, which allows 30 days to leave; an exclusion order, which prohibits re-entry for one to five years; and a deportation order, which permanently bars return unless special permission is granted.
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The Canadian government asserts that this stricter approach is necessary to achieve immigration targets and alleviate pressures on housing, employment, and border security.
It has allocated $30.5 million to enhance deportation efforts and $1.3 billion to improve border control.
Despite the intensified enforcement, Canada continues to be a favored destination for Nigerians. Census data reveals that over 40,000 Nigerians relocated to Canada between 2016 and 2021.
Additionally, more than 71,000 Nigerians obtained Canadian citizenship from 2005 to 2024, positioning Nigeria among the top 10 source countries.
