Over 6,800 Nigerians became Canadian citizens in the first half of 2025, the highest number from any African country within the period, according to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The report showed that 6,831 Nigerian-born individuals acquired Canadian citizenship between January and June 2025, accounting for 25.9 per cent of all new citizens from Africa.
In total, 26,286 Africans were granted Canadian citizenship during the period, with Nigerians making up more than a quarter of that figure. Morocco (1,835), Algeria (1,831), and Tunisia (1,538) followed, each contributing over five per cent of the total.
Other top contributors included Eritrea (1,283), Cameroon (1,276), Ethiopia (1,163), Egypt (1,158), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (1,081). South Africa recorded 832 new citizens, representing 3.2 per cent.
The data highlights the continued migration of skilled and educated Africans, including Nigerians, in search of better economic opportunities, quality education, and political stability. Analysts say the trend reflects the appeal of Canada’s flexible immigration pathways and its strong labour market.
For Nigeria, the surge underscores persistent domestic challenges such as unemployment, insecurity, and economic instability, which have continued to push many professionals abroad.
However, the development comes at a time when the Canadian government is tightening immigration controls amid concerns over housing shortages and pressure on public services.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted that Canada’s population had grown at “baby boom speed” in recent years, largely due to temporary residents, foreign workers, and international students admitted after the pandemic.
“Our population has grown really fast, like baby boom fast,” Trudeau said, noting that while the influx helped avert a recession, it also created loopholes exploited by “fake colleges and big chain corporations.”
He said the government would now reduce immigration levels to stabilise growth and prioritise skilled permanent residents such as healthcare and construction workers.
“We’re making the system work for Canadians and for newcomers, rather than for the big box stores, chain restaurants, and sham colleges that exploit it,” he added.
