Canada Deports 366 Nigerians in 10 Months as Immigration Crackdown Intensifies - Newstrends
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Canada Deports 366 Nigerians in 10 Months as Immigration Crackdown Intensifies

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Ireland deports 35 Nigerians
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Canada Deports 366 Nigerians in 10 Months as Immigration Crackdown Intensifies

Canada deported 366 Nigerian nationals between January and October 2025 as immigration enforcement intensified to levels not seen in more than a decade, according to official data from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

The data, last updated on November 25, 2025, also show that 974 Nigerians are currently listed under “removal in progress,” meaning they are awaiting deportation. With these figures, Nigeria ranked ninth among the top 10 nationalities deported from Canada in 2025 and fifth among countries with the highest number of pending removals.

Historical CBSA records indicate fluctuating deportation trends for Nigerians. In 2019, Canada removed 339 Nigerians, a figure that fell to 302 in 2020, 242 in 2021, and 199 in 2022. Nigeria did not feature among the top 10 deported nationalities in 2023 and 2024, but returned to the list in 2025, with 366 deportations recorded within 10 months—an eight per cent increase compared with 2019.

The deportations are occurring amid a broader Canadian immigration crackdown, with the CBSA now removing nearly 400 foreign nationals every week, the highest weekly rate in over a decade. During the 2024–2025 fiscal year, Canada deported 18,048 individuals, spending an estimated $78 million on removals.

Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the CBSA is legally required to remove foreign nationals subject to enforceable removal orders. Grounds for removal include security concerns, criminal activity, organised crime, human or international rights violations, health or financial reasons, misrepresentation, and non-compliance with immigration laws.

CBSA data show that failed refugee claimants account for about 83 per cent of all removals, while criminality-related cases make up roughly four per cent.

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Canadian law recognises three types of removal orders: departure orders, requiring exit within 30 days; exclusion orders, barring re-entry for one to five years; and deportation orders, which permanently prohibit return without special authorisation.

The Canadian government says the intensified enforcement is aimed at meeting tighter immigration targets and addressing challenges such as housing shortages, labour market pressure, and border security. Ottawa has allocated an additional $30.5 million over three years for removals, alongside a $1.3 billion investment to strengthen border security.

Meanwhile, the President of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, Aisling Bondy, warned that deportations could rise further if Bill C-12, known as the border bill, is passed.

“One of the clauses in that bill is that a lot of people will be permanently banned from filing a refugee claim in Canada,” she said.

An analysis of CBSA figures shows that Nigeria is the only African country listed among the top 10 deported nationalities in 2025. Other African countries are grouped under “remaining nationals,” which together accounted for 6,233 removals during the year.

The top 10 countries for deportations in 2025 are Mexico (3,972), India (2,831), Haiti (2,012), Colombia (737), Romania (672), United States (656), Venezuela (562), China (385), Nigeria (366), and Pakistan (359).

A similar trend appears in the removal-in-progress list, where Nigeria, with 974 pending cases, is again the only African country in the top 10. India leads with 6,515 cases, followed by Mexico (4,650), United States (1,704), China (1,430), Nigeria (974), Colombia (895), Pakistan (863), Haiti (741), Brazil (650), and Chile (621).

Despite the rising deportations, Canada remains a top destination for Nigerians seeking better economic and educational opportunities. The 2021 Canadian census showed that over 40,000 Nigerians migrated to Canada between 2016 and 2021, making them the largest African immigrant group and the fifth-largest recent immigrant population.

Further figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveal that 6,600 Nigerians became new permanent residents in the first four months of 2024, ranking fourth after India, the Philippines, and China. Between 2005 and 2024, a total of 71,459 Nigerians acquired Canadian citizenship, placing Nigeria 10th globally.

Canada’s ageing population and persistent labour shortages continue to attract skilled Nigerian professionals and students, even as immigration enforcement tightens.

Canada Deports 366 Nigerians in 10 Months as Immigration Crackdown Intensifies

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US Lawmakers Raise Fresh Alarm Over Alleged Christian Genocide in Nigeria

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US lawmaker Riley Moore
US lawmaker Riley Moore

US Lawmakers Raise Fresh Alarm Over Alleged Christian Genocide in Nigeria

Several United States lawmakers have raised fresh alarm over alleged Christian persecution and genocide in Nigeria, urging diplomatic intervention, policy action, and international attention to the country’s ongoing security crisis.

Republican Representative Riley Moore highlighted violence by armed groups, including Boko Haram and Fulani militias, which have displaced hundreds of thousands of Christians, particularly in Benue State. Moore described the attacks as “genocidal” and has called for stronger U.S. engagement to protect vulnerable communities.

In Congress, lawmakers have introduced resolutions condemning violence against Christians in Nigeria, with some pushing to designate the country as a “Country of Particular Concern (CPC)”, a U.S. foreign policy measure that could trigger sanctions and diplomatic pressure. Supporters argue the move is necessary to compel Nigeria to strengthen security, while critics caution that such a designation could strain U.S.–Nigeria relations.

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The Federal Government of Nigeria has dismissed the genocide narrative as propaganda and misinformation, noting that Nigeria’s security challenges affect both Christian and Muslim communities. Abuja has also hired U.S.-based lobbyists to communicate its security efforts and clarify that the violence is linked to terrorism and communal conflict, not targeted religious extermination.

Religious and civil society voices remain divided. Some emphasise the real threat to Christian communities, while others warn that framing the situation as genocide oversimplifies Nigeria’s multifaceted security challenges, which include terrorism, banditry, and communal violence.

As debate intensifies, the controversy continues to influence international perceptions, diplomatic relations, and discussions on religious freedom and security policy in Nigeria.

US Lawmakers Raise Fresh Alarm Over Alleged Christian Genocide in Nigeria

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Obasanjo Holds Secret Meeting With Babangida Amid 2027 Election Speculations

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Obasanjo Holds Secret Meeting With Babangida Amid 2027 Election Speculations

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo met privately with ex-military ruler General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida at Babangida’s residence in Minna, Niger State, in a closed-door meeting that has sparked widespread speculation about potential political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The meeting, which lasted about 30 minutes, drew attention as both leaders emerged as key elder statesmen whose counsel and influence are often sought by Nigeria’s political elite. Neither Obasanjo nor Babangida spoke to journalists after the session, and no official statement was released, fueling discussions about behind-the-scenes strategic planning and coalition-building for 2027.

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Political analysts note that such high-profile consultations are common ahead of major elections, as party leaders, former presidents, and influential figures explore alliances, policy priorities, and national governance strategies. Observers also link this meeting to recent PDP and APC elder consultations, signaling continued efforts by senior politicians to shape the electoral landscape.

The rendezvous underscores Obasanjo’s continuing role as a political kingmaker, leveraging his network and experience to influence party strategies, candidate selection, and national discourse. With the 2027 elections approaching, similar closed-door meetings among Nigeria’s top political figures are expected to intensify in the coming months.

Obasanjo Holds Secret Meeting With Babangida Amid 2027 Election Speculations

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Outrage in Borno as APC Excludes VP Shettima’s Photo at North‑East Zonal Hearing

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Vice‑President Kashim Shettima

Outrage in Borno as APC Excludes VP Shettima’s Photo at North‑East Zonal Hearing

There has been widespread anger in Borno State after the All Progressives Congress (APC) omitted Vice‑President Kashim Shettima from the official banner at the party’s North‑East zonal public hearing on constitutional amendments in Maiduguri. The banner, which featured President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the five APC governors from the region, and the party’s National Legal Adviser, conspicuously left out Shettima, a native of Borno State.

The omission prompted immediate backlash from party leaders, including Abdulkarim Lawan, Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, who described it as “provocative and unfair,” stressing that it was inappropriate to sideline a senior party official in his home state. The speaker recalled a similar controversy at an APC event in Gombe State last year, highlighting persistent sensitivities within the party’s North‑East faction.

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Attendees of the Maiduguri hearing, convened to discuss proposed constitutional amendments, expressed support for Lawan’s remarks, with loud applause and calls for the Vice‑President’s recognition. In response, the APC Deputy National Chairman dismissed the exclusion as an oversight by organisers, insisting there was no intention to diminish Shettima’s status and affirming that the hearing’s focus remained on party reforms rather than politics.

The incident comes amid speculation about internal APC dynamics ahead of the 2027 general elections, including questions around representation and leadership within the North‑East. Analysts note that repeated omissions of Shettima at high-profile events could fuel perceptions of internal rifts and affect party cohesion in the region.

Outrage in Borno as APC Excludes VP Shettima’s Photo at North‑East Zonal Hearing

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