Canada deported 366 Nigerian nationals between January and October 2025 as immigration authorities intensified enforcement at a pace not seen in more than a decade, according to official data obtained over the weekend.
Figures from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) removals programme also show that 974 Nigerians are currently listed under “removal in progress,” indicating they are awaiting deportation.
The statistics, last updated on November 25, 2025, placed Nigeria ninth among the top 10 nationalities deported from Canada during the period under review. Nigeria also ranked fifth among countries with the highest number of individuals awaiting removal.
Historical data revealed fluctuating deportation numbers over recent years. In 2019, Canada removed 339 Nigerians, 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 but re-entered the list in 2025, with 366 removals recorded within just 10 months—an increase of eight per cent compared with 2019.
The removals are occurring amid a broader immigration enforcement push by Canadian authorities. The CBSA is now deporting nearly 400 foreign nationals each week, marking the highest weekly removal rate in over a decade. In the 2024–2025 fiscal year alone, Canada removed 18,048 individuals, spending about $78m on the exercise.
Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the CBSA is required by law to remove any foreign national subject to an enforceable removal order. Individuals may be deemed inadmissible on several grounds, including security concerns, human or international rights violations, criminal activity, organised crime, health or financial reasons, misrepresentation and failure to comply with immigration regulations.
Data show that failed refugee claimants make up the bulk of removals, accounting for approximately 83 per cent of cases. Criminality-related removals represent about four per cent.
Canadian law recognises three categories of removal orders: departure orders, which mandate exit within 30 days; exclusion orders, which prohibit re-entry for one to five years; and deportation orders, which permanently bar return unless special authorisation is granted.
The Canadian government has said the intensified deportation drive is part of efforts to meet tighter immigration targets and respond to challenges such as housing shortages, labour market strain, and border security concerns. To support this, Ottawa has earmarked an additional $30.5m over three years for removals, alongside a $1.3bn commitment to strengthen border security.
President of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, Aisling Bondy, warned that deportations could increase further if Bill C-12—commonly referred to as the ‘border bill’—is passed.
(Vanguard)
