Canada Approves 1,467 Nigerian Asylum Seekers In 15 Months

The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada approved asylum for 1,467 Nigerians seeking refugee protection between January 2023 and March 2024.

This brings the total number of accepted asylum claims by Nigerians to 11,370 from 2012 to the first quarter of 2024, according to data from the Refugee Protection Division of the Board.

To qualify for refugee protection in Canada, the Division must verify that applicants meet the United Nations definition of a Convention refugee or are individuals in need of protection.

The 1951 UN Convention on the Status of Refugees defines refugees as those who have a well-founded fear of persecution based on factors such as race, nationality, religion, political beliefs, or social group membership.