The United Kingdom Home Office has revealed that Nigerian nationals filed 22,619 asylum applications between 2010 and 2024, accounting for one in every 30 claims. The figure places Nigeria 11th on the Home Office’s year-end Asylum and Resettlement statistics list.
Nigeria’s Surge in 2024 Asylum Requests
In 2024 alone, 2,841 Nigerians applied for asylum in the UK—almost double the 1,462 recorded in 2023. This sharp rise contributed to the record-breaking total of 108,138 asylum applications received by the UK in 2024, marking a 378% increase from 2010.
Most applications were from first-time claimants, predominantly from South Asia and the Middle East.
Top Asylum-Seeking Nations
Iran topped the list with 75,737 total applications, largely due to increased persecution of dissidents. Pakistan followed with 57,621 applications, including 10,542 in 2024 alone, driven by political instability and blasphemy prosecutions.
Afghanistan placed third with 54,363 asylum claims, including 8,508 in 2024—a continuing trend since the Taliban takeover in 2022.
Other high-ranking countries include:
-
Albania: 50,944
-
Iraq: 45,711
-
Eritrea: 37,687
-
Syria: 34,997
-
Bangladesh: 31,744 (7,225 in 2024 alone)
Nigeria’s tally ranked just above Sri Lanka (22,059) and outpaced countries like Vietnam, China, and Turkey.
Reasons for Nigerian Asylum Claims
Many Nigerian applicants cited political persecution, particularly under Nigeria’s cybercrime laws, or discrimination based on sexual orientation—both of which fall under protection grounds in the Refugee Convention.
Legal Requirements for Asylum
To qualify for asylum under UK law, claimants must prove a “well-founded fear of persecution” based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. The Home Office handles initial decisions, and rejected applicants can appeal to the Immigration and Asylum Chamber.
As global and domestic conditions evolve, the UK continues to experience significant increases in asylum claims across multiple nationalities.
READ ALSO: Canadian Court Denies Asylum Request Of Nigerian Politician Over Credibility Issues
