Canada has deported 366 Nigerian nationals between January and October 2025, as immigration authorities intensify enforcement under the country’s immigration laws, official data from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) have shown. The removals form part of what officials describe as the most aggressive deportation drive Canada has witnessed in over a decade.
The figures, last updated on November 25, 2025, also indicate that 974 Nigerians are currently listed for removal, with their cases categorised as “in progress.” This status means the affected individuals are at different stages of deportation procedures, including appeals, documentation, or travel arrangements.
In the overall ranking of deportations by nationality in 2025, Nigeria placed ninth among countries whose citizens were removed from Canada. However, when it comes to those awaiting deportation, Nigeria ranked fifth, underscoring the growing scale of immigration enforcement affecting Nigerian nationals.
A breakdown of the data shows that the majority of deported Nigerians were failed refugee claimants, accounting for more than four-fifths of the total removals. Only a small fraction of the deportations were linked to criminality, while others involved immigration violations such as overstaying visas, misrepresentation, or failure to meet residency requirements.
Under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the CBSA is legally mandated to enforce removal orders once they become effective. These orders fall into three main categories: departure orders, exclusion orders, and deportation orders, each carrying varying restrictions on re-entry into Canada.
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The 2025 deportation numbers mark a noticeable increase compared to recent years. While Nigeria recorded 339 removals in 2019, the figures dropped steadily through 2020, 2021, and 2022, before Nigeria disappeared from the top deportation list in 2023 and 2024. The country’s re-emergence in 2025 reflects a renewed tightening of immigration controls.
Canadian authorities say the current enforcement push is part of a broader effort to restore integrity to the immigration system. On average, Canada is now removing hundreds of foreign nationals weekly, a pace officials say has not been seen in more than ten years.
Government records also show that deportations come at a significant cost. In the 2024–2025 fiscal year alone, Canada reportedly spent tens of millions of dollars on removals, alongside additional funding allocated to border security and immigration enforcement operations.
Despite the rising deportation figures, Canada remains a major destination for Nigerians seeking better opportunities. Census and immigration data indicate that Nigerians are among the fastest-growing African immigrant communities in the country, with tens of thousands gaining permanent residency or citizenship over the past two decades.
The contrasting realities of increased deportations and sustained Nigerian migration highlight the complexities of Canada’s immigration system — one that continues to attract migrants while simultaneously enforcing stricter rules on those who fall outside its legal framework.
