Many young professionals reportedly switch from legal migration to asylum once in the UK, citing threats and discrimination under Nigeria’s cybercrime laws or due to sexual orientation.
The United Kingdom received 22,619 asylum applications from Nigerians between 2010 and 2024, according to new data from the UK Home Office. This figure places Nigeria 11th globally in asylum claims, accounting for one in every 30 applications.
In 2024 alone, Nigerian asylum requests nearly doubled to 2,841 from 1,462 in 2023.
Analysts cite worsening insecurity, kidnapping, insurgency, and a weakened naira as key drivers. “Since Nigeria is becoming inhospitable… there is desperation to go abroad,” said Charles Onunaiju, Director, Centre for China Studies.
Many young professionals reportedly switch from legal migration to asylum once in the UK, citing threats and discrimination under Nigeria’s cybercrime laws or due to sexual orientation.
Despite the Illegal Migration Act 2023, most asylum seekers are still processed under the regular system, as legal hurdles stall the UK’s Rwanda deportation plan.
“It’s total brain drain,” said economist Dr. Aliyu Ilias. “We are losing trained professionals—our doctors, our engineers—to other countries permanently.”