By Kabiru Abdulrauf
Between 2010 and 2024, over 22,600 Nigerian nationals sought asylum in the United Kingdom, making up roughly 1 in every 30 asylum claims filed in the country during that period, according to data from the UK Home Office.
The numbers tell a deeper story. In 2024 alone, 2,841 asylum applications were submitted by Nigerians—nearly double the 1,462 filed in 2023. This sharp rise mirrors the deteriorating conditions back home: a toxic mix of insurgency, rampant banditry, widespread kidnappings, and a crippling economy plagued by the devaluation of the naira in 2023.
While the UK received a record 108,138 asylum claims in 2024, Nigeria has emerged as one of the top source countries, ranking just behind Sri Lanka and outpacing nations like China and Vietnam.
This uptick in asylum seekers underscores not only the desperation of many Nigerians but also the global dimensions of domestic instability. As the UK grapples with record-high migration numbers, Nigerian voices are becoming a growing part of the broader asylum narrative.
Whether driven by fear, hope, or necessity, their stories reflect a country at a crossroads—and a world watching closely.
