- Canada removed six hundred forty-three Nigerians between January twenty twenty-five and June twenty twenty-six.
- Nigeria ranked ninth globally and was the only African nation in the top ten removal list.
- Eighty-three percent of enforcement actions involved failed refugee claimants rather than criminal activity.
Canada removed 643 Nigerians between January 2025 and June 2026, and Nigeria was the only African country in the top 10 nationalities removed. The 205 removals recorded in the first half of 2026 lifted it to 9th place. The pace stayed high.
The Canada Border Services Agency said 10,607 inadmissible people were removed from January 1 to June 30, 2026. India led with 3,323, Mexico had 1,573, Haiti had 431, and Nigeria had 205. India led.
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Nigeria's 2025 total was 438. Canada carried out 23,160 enforced removals that year, the highest in over a decade. The numbers were already high.
The agency says removals are non-discretionary. Most cases are not criminal. About 83% involve failed refugee claimants, while only about 4% are tied to criminality.
Ottawa also tightened the asylum process in March. Bill C-12 received Royal Assent on March 26, 2026, and it introduced a one-year deadline for asylum claims plus broader powers to examine goods and documents at transportation hubs. The timetable tightened.
Nigeria moved up as the half-year list stayed crowded
The half-year ranking was top-heavy.
| Nationality | Removals, Jan. 1 to June 30, 2026 |
|---|---|
| India | 3,323 |
| Mexico | 1,573 |
| Haiti | 431 |
| Nigeria | 205 |
Nigeria sat at 9th. It was the only African name in the top 10.
Late in 2025, 974 Nigerians were in the agency's inventory of removals in progress. That queue still mattered. The same country also kept sending legal migrants.
In early 2024, more than 6,600 Nigerians won permanent residency, ranking fourth behind India, the Philippines and China. Legal entry did not stop.
Marc Miller linked the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan to easing pressure on housing, infrastructure and social services. He said:
"This transitional levels plan alleviates pressures on housing, infrastructure and social services so that over the long term we can grow our economic and social prosperity through immigration."
Abike Dabiri-Erewa has warned Nigerians against irregular migration. She said:
"The situation is getting tougher in many countries. it is just not worth it, more often than not. [Nigerians must] desist from arriving in the country to seek asylum without proper documentation."
Most 2025 removals were unescorted. 20,619 left that way, while 1,639 needed CBSA escorts. The latest statistics were updated on July 24, 2026.
