The data, updated to August 21, shows that out of 3,548 claims filed by Nigerian nationals this year, 2,292 were approved, resulting in an acceptance rate of approximately 65%. 

This is a notable increase from previous years, during which a total of over 13,000 applications from Nigerians were cumulatively rejected.

According to an analysis by Canadian immigration practice Maple Crest Law, Nigeria is one of the top sources of asylum seekers, alongside Mexico, India, Haiti, and Colombia. 

The increase in applications is reportedly driven by ongoing violence from Boko Haram and economic instability within Nigeria.

The 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees defines refugees as persons who have a substantiated fear of persecution because of their race, nationality, religion, political ideology or membership in a particular social group.

Such social groups can include sexual orientation, gender identity, being a woman and persons living with HIV/AIDS.

However, persons asking for protection in Canada must show evidence portending danger of torture, risk to their life or risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment should they return to their country of nationality.

Typically, such protection claims are made when immigrants notify the Border Services Agency at any port of entry upon arriving in Canada or report to an immigration officer.

“The officer decides whether the claim is eligible to be referred to the IRB.

“If the claim is eligible, it is sent to the RPD to start the claim for refugee protection process,” an application guideline by the Refugee Board reads.

Historical data shows that between 2013 and 2024, the IRB rejected 13,171 applications from Nigerians while accepting 10,580. The year with the highest number of rejections for Nigerian applicants was 2019, with 3,951 claims turned down.

Despite the rejections, Nigeria ranked among the top 10 countries with the most accepted claims in 2024, placing eighth on the list.

Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi is the Executive Director of the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation.

In an interview, she said irregular migration motivated by economic hardship is often the leading cause of rejections.

“Most times, many Nigerians miss it when they don’t understand the laws governing refugee status as adopted in their chosen destination. Every country has its regulations for absorbing people into its system.

“For one, documentation is crucial because coming irregularly will get you rejected from their system. But ultimately, everybody’s rights must be protected.

“Migration must be safe, orderly and regular. Even if their status is irregular, those who really need protection should be protected,” Ladipo-Sanusi told Sunday PUNCH.

The government of Ontario confirmed that the two cases are in the capital Ottawa.

Both patients are in isolation while public health authorities trace their possible contacts, said Federal and Ontario provincial officials.

“I was informed today by the Public Health Agency of Canada that testing and monitoring of Covid-19 cases has confirmed two cases of the Omicron variant of concern in Ontario,” Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said in a statement on Sunday.

“As the monitoring and testing continues,” he added, “it is expected that other cases of this variant will be found in Canada.”

To reduce the transmission of the Omicron variant and out of an abundance of caution, Ottawa Public Health has therefore advised individuals who have been in Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Namibia, within 14 days before arriving in Ottawa, and members of their households to immediately self-isolate even if fully vaccinated.

The World Health Organization has listed Omicron as a “variant of concern” and countries around the world are now restricting travel from southern Africa, where the new strain was first detected and taking other new precautions.

The WHO says it could take several weeks to know if there are significant changes in transmissibility, severity, or implications for Covid vaccines, tests, and treatments.

On Friday, Canada banned travel from seven African countries over concerns about the spread of the Omicron strain. Nigeria was not one of them.

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