According to BusinessDay, the Canadian government has deported 366 Nigerians as part of a broader crackdown on immigration, with nearly 1,000 more facing imminent removal. The surge in deportations follows Canada’s decision to end various open work permit programs that many Nigerians had utilized.
The move has sent shockwaves through the Nigerian diaspora community, many of whom moved to North America during the ‘Japa’ wave of 2023–2025. The policy change reflects a tightening of borders in Western nations as they grapple with housing shortages and shifting economic priorities.
Validation of this trend comes from The Guardian, which reported that ‘Canada’s plan to end open work permits raises fresh concerns for Nigerian migrants.’ Additionally, Vanguard noted that the ‘year 2025 was the year Nigerian students pivoted to Schengen countries,’ suggesting that migrants are already looking for alternatives to the North American route.
Echotitbits take: This is a wake-up call for the ‘Japa’ generation. With Canada closing its doors, we expect a shift in migration patterns toward Eastern Europe or a ‘reverse-brain drain’ where skilled Nigerians return home to leverage the improving 2026 domestic economy.
Source: BusinessDay — https://www.google.com/amp/s/businessday.ng/news/article/canada-deports-366-nigerians-as-974-face-removal-in-crackdown/%3famp
BusinessDay January 3, 2026
Photo Credit: BusinessDay
