Between January and August 2025 Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board decided 3,548 asylum claims from Nigerians, approving 2,292 and denying 1,596, new IRB data show. The 65% approval rate is the highest in five years, up from 54% in 2023, yet the 1,596 refusals carry sharp lessons for future applicants.
Immigration lawyers attribute the rise in acceptances to tighter case screening and stronger country-condition evidence on insecurity, banditry and economic coercion in Nigeria. Conversely, the rejected files overwhelmingly reveal two pitfalls: irregular entry via Roxham Road and documentary gaps that leave credibility doubts. “Claimants who arrive without passports, police reports or medical evidence struggle to meet the Balanced-of-Probability test,” says Toronto practitioner Chika Obi.
For the 1,596 families now facing removal, the next 15 days are critical: they can seek a Federal Court leave-and-stay motion, file a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment, or pivot to spousal or skilled-worker programs if eligible. Diaspora sponsors are urged to rally sworn affidavits, fresh country intel and legal aid pledges.
Bottom line: a 65% win rate is good news, but the path to protection still runs through meticulous paperwork and lawful entry. Share your appeal experience on tribesofandrew.com—your story could save the next claim.