Canadian authorities have carried out a significant immigration enforcement operation in 2025, resulting in the deportation of hundreds of Nigerian nationals. Official data reveals a sharp increase in removals, placing Nigeria back on a prominent list of affected countries.
Nigeria Returns to Canada's Top 10 Deportation List
According to figures released by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), 366 Nigerian citizens were deported between January and October 2025. This statistic has propelled Nigeria to the ninth position among the top ten nationalities removed from Canada this year. The data, which was updated on November 25, 2025, also indicates that 974 Nigerians are currently under "removal in progress" status, meaning they are in the queue for deportation.
This development marks a notable shift, as Nigeria was absent from this top ten list in both 2023 and 2024. Historical comparisons show fluctuating numbers: 339 Nigerians were deported in 2019, 302 in 2020, 242 in 2021, and 199 in 2022. The 2025 total represents an eight per cent increase over the 2019 figure.
Behind Canada's Aggressive Immigration Enforcement Drive
The removals are part of a broader crackdown by Canadian officials, which has reached its fastest pace in more than a decade. The CBSA is now removing close to 400 foreign nationals each week. In the 2024–2025 fiscal year alone, Canada deported 18,048 individuals at a cost of roughly $78 million on removal operations.
Government sources link the intensified drive to several national concerns, including efforts to manage immigration targets, address housing shortages, alleviate labour market pressures, and bolster border security. To support these efforts, the government has committed an extra $30.5 million over three years to strengthen removal operations, alongside a $1.3 billion investment in border security.
CBSA breakdowns show that the vast majority of deportations, approximately 83 per cent, involve failed refugee claimants whose asylum applications were denied. Criminality accounts for about four per cent of cases. Other grounds for removal can include security risks, human rights violations, misrepresentation, health issues, financial reasons, or non-compliance with immigration laws.
Implications and Continued Nigerian Interest in Canada
Nigeria stands out as the only African country featured in Canada's top ten nationalities for deportations in 2025. Other African nations are categorized under "remaining nationals," which together accounted for 6,233 removals. The leading countries on the deportation list are Mexico (3,972), India (2,831), and Haiti (2,012), followed by Colombia, Romania, the United States, Venezuela, China, Nigeria, and Pakistan.
Legal experts have raised concerns that deportations could escalate further if proposed legislation is enacted. Aisling Bondy, President of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, warned that Bill C-12, known as the border bill, could permanently ban many individuals from filing refugee claims in Canada if passed.
Despite the stricter enforcement, Canada remains a key destination for Nigerian migrants. Census data from 2021 shows that over 40,000 Nigerians moved to Canada between 2016 and 2021, forming the largest African migrant community in the country. More recent immigration data indicates that 6,600 Nigerians gained permanent resident status in the first four months of 2024, while over 71,000 obtained Canadian citizenship between 2005 and 2024.
Analysts suggest that Canada's demographic challenges, such as an ageing population and persistent labour shortages, will likely continue to attract skilled professionals and students from Nigeria, even as border controls become more stringent.
