974 Nigerians Await Deportation from Canada

 No fewer than 974 Nigerians are awaiting deportation in Canada, it was learnt yesterday.

They are said to be currently in the “removal-in-progress” queue, awaiting deportation.

The Canadian authorities deported 366 Nigerians between January and October 2025.

About 83% of those deported are failed refugee claimants, while criminality accounts for roughly 4%. Under Canadian law, anyone with an enforceable removal order must be deported.

Outside the United Kingdom and the United States, Canada remains a major destination for Nigerians, with over 71,000 Nigerians gaining citizenship between 2005 and 2024, and thousands more arriving yearly as students, workers, and permanent residents.

Data from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) showed that Nigeria is the only African country on the list of 10 nationalities deported in 2025 occupying the ninth position.

Canada is carrying out an aggressive nationwide crackdown. Canada now deports nearly 400 people weekly, removing 18,048 foreign nationals in the 2024–2025 fiscal year at a cost of about $78 million.

Authorities say the push is aimed at tightening immigration targets and easing pressure on housing, jobs, and border security, backing the effort with an extra $30.5 million for removals and $1.3 billion for border enforcement.

Immigration lawyers warn deportations could rise further if Bill C-12 is passed, potentially imposing permanent bans on some refugee claims.