Nigerian nationals have filed over 22,619 asylum applications in the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2024, according to the latest report from the UK Home Office.
The newly released year-end Asylum and Resettlement statistics show that Nigerians made up one in every 30 asylum seekers during this 14-year span.
In 2024 alone, 2,841 Nigerians applied for asylum in the UK almost double the 1,462 recorded in 2023.
The Home Office noted that “2024 saw the highest number of asylum applications to the UK, with 108,138 people,” marking a 378% rise from 2010.
Most applicants were from South Asian and Middle Eastern countries.
However, the report shows Nigeria ranking 11th, ahead of Sri Lanka, Vietnam, China, and Turkey.
While Iran topped the list with 75,737 asylum claims, followed by Pakistan with 57,621, the rise in Nigerian applications is gaining attention.
The rise in asylum applications from Nigeria is reportedly linked to fears of persecution under Nigeria’s cybercrime laws and issues related to sexuality.
As stated in the report, “In most cases, the reports say, applicants also invoke political persecution under Nigeria’s sweeping cybercrimes legislation or discrimination tied to sexual orientation categories that fall within the Refugee Convention’s protection grounds.”
Afghanistan followed closely with 54,363 total claims. Countries like Albania (50,944), Iraq (45,711), Eritrea (37,687), Syria (34,997), and Bangladesh (31,744) also made the top ten.
Notably, Bangladesh saw a jump from 5,097 asylum seekers in 2023 to 7,225 in 2024 following political changes.
Meanwhile, Sudan (30,897) and India (30,179) completed the top ten list.
Nigeria’s position, just ahead of Sri Lanka with 22,059 applications, reflects its growing presence in the asylum data.
Under British law, “an asylum seeker must demonstrate a ‘well-founded fear of persecution’ on the basis of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership of a particular social group,” the Home Office website explains.
The Home Office makes the first decision on all asylum claims.
However, when rejected, appeals are made through the Immigration and Asylum Chamber.
Therefore policies that protect basic freedoms and reduce political and social discrimination must be strengthened.
