UK Records 22,619 Asylum Applications from Nigerians

 

Newly released figures from the United Kingdom’s Home Office reveal that 22,619 Nigerian nationals applied for asylum in the UK between 2010 and 2024. The data positions Nigeria as the 11th highest source of asylum claims during that period, with Nigerians accounting for approximately one in every 30 applications.

According to the Home Office’s year-end Asylum and Resettlement Statistics, there was a sharp rise in Nigerian asylum requests in 2024. A total of 2,841 Nigerians sought asylum last year, nearly doubling the 1,462 applications recorded in 2023.

The UK witnessed a significant surge in overall asylum claims in 2024, reaching a record 108,138 applications—marking a staggering 378% increase compared to 2010. The majority of these were first-time requests, primarily from South Asian and Middle Eastern nationals.

Iran led with 75,737 asylum claims, largely attributed to state persecution of dissidents. Pakistan followed with 57,621 claims, driven by political instability, economic crisis, and an uptick in blasphemy-related prosecutions. Afghanistan ranked third with 54,363 applications since 2010, including 8,508 in 2024—a lingering effect of the Taliban’s 2022 return to power.

Other countries with high numbers of asylum seekers include: Albania: 50,944, Iraq: 45,711, Eritrea: 37,687, Syria: 34,997, Bangladesh: 31,744 (up from 5,097 in 2023 to 7,225 in 2024), Sudan: 30,897, India: 30,179

Nigeria’s 22,619 applications place it ahead of Sri Lanka (22,059) and above Vietnam, China, and Turkey. Countries like Brazil, Kuwait, Yemen, Colombia, and Jordan recorded fewer than 6,500 claims each.

Under British law, asylum seekers must prove a “well-founded fear of persecution” based on factors like race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or belonging to a particular social group.

For Nigerian applicants, common claims reportedly include political persecution—especially under the country’s broad cybercrime laws—and discrimination related to sexual orientation, both of which fall under international protection guidelines.

The UK Home Office is responsible for initial asylum decisions. Applicants who receive negative outcomes can appeal to the Immigration and Asylum Chamber.

As global crises and domestic pressures continue to influence migration trends, experts say the UK is likely to face sustained pressure to manage and reform its asylum system in the years ahead.