Canada’s New Wave: 10,180 Nigerians in Just 6 Months!

10,180 Nigerians Relocate to Canada in the First Half of 2023

Canada, a nation known for its warm embrace of immigrants, welcomed 10,180 individuals from Nigeria during January to June 2023, showcasing its continued commitment to diversity and growth.

The Rise in Nigerian Immigrants

According to recent data from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the number of Permanent Residents (PRs) from Nigeria reached 10,180 in the first half of 2023. This is a modest 0.74% jump from 10,105 during the same timeframe in 2022.

Toyyib Adelodun, a notable immigration consultant based in the UK, offered some insight. He stated, “Canada has consistently been receptive to immigrants, especially in response to its skill shortages.” Unlike the UK, where it might be relatively straightforward to enter but lengthy to gain citizenship, Canada offers a different proposition. Adelodun adds, “Canada even permits visits while your PR application is under consideration.”

A Canadian PR isn’t just an immigration status. It allows non-Canadians to live and work indefinitely within the country. PR holders enjoy most social, healthcare benefits, and protections that Canadian citizens do.

Global Immigration Figures to Canada

In the grand scheme of things, Nigeria ranks fourth among the nations sending immigrants to Canada. With 263,180 new immigrants in total:

• India stands at the top with 84,425.
• China follows with 18,760.
• Philippines claims the third spot with 14,450.

Other countries like Afghanistan, the U.S., Pakistan, Eritrea, France, and Iran also contribute to Canada’s diverse immigration landscape.

The Underlying Factors

One primary reason Canada is actively seeking immigrants is its aging populace paired with a declining birth rate. These factors lead to a dwindling workforce. To address this, Canada has been rolling out immigration-friendly policies and programs.

The Canadian government has set ambitious goals, targeting 500,000 immigrants annually by 2025. To put this into perspective, Canada admitted 437,120 PRs in 2022, marking an 8% growth from 2021.

Student immigration is also notable. Top countries sending students to Canada include:

1. India – 175,021
2. Nigeria – 43,482
3. Philippines – 21,902
4. China – 14,975
5. Nepal – 12,776

May 2023 witnessed Canada introducing policies making family relocations for recent immigrants easier. This decision was juxtaposed against the UK’s move to tighten its immigration policies.

Furthermore, Canada’s express entry system underwent changes, now focusing on a category-based selection, aimed at addressing labor shortages and stimulating the economy.

Nigeria’s Situation

Higher education and employment opportunities remain key reasons for Nigerians seeking life in another country. However, Nigeria’s contemporary challenges, such as rising inflation, unemployment, and fragile economic growth, act as driving factors for its citizens to seek opportunities abroad.

Reports from the National Bureau of Statistics depict a troubling image of Nigeria’s economy. The inflation rate surged to a staggering 24.08% in July 2023, and unemployment, previously at an all-time high of 33.3% in 2020, has aggravated insecurity.

Nigeria’s poverty metrics are also alarming, with 133 million Nigerians in multidimensional poverty in the recent year, a significant leap from 82.9 million in 2019.

In Conclusion

The first half of 2023 has seen a steady flow of Nigerians moving to Canada, driven by diverse factors ranging from personal ambitions to national challenges. As Canada continues to open its doors, the fabric of its society grows richer and more diverse, reinforcing its reputation as a global mosaic of cultures