Over 22,000 Nigerians have knocked on the UK’s door for asylum between 2010 and 2024, according to reports, based on fresh stats from the United Kingdom Home Office. That is one in every 30 asylum claims the UK got in that time, landing Nigeria 11th on the list of countries sending people to seek safety there. In 2024 alone, almost 3,000 Nigerians (2,841) applied—nearly double the 1,462 from 2023. The UK saw a massive 108,000 asylum applications last year, the highest ever, mostly from South Asia and the Middle East. Iran led with 75,000, while Nigeria’s numbers put us just above Sri Lanka (22,059) and ahead of places like Vietnam and Turkey. Analysts say it’s Nigeria’s tough times which includes banditry, kidnappings, and a weaker naira since 2023 that are pushing people to run.
What’s driving this rush? It’s not just about escaping danger; some Nigerians are getting creative. Young professionals who once came to the UK on skilled worker visas are now switching to asylum claims once they arrive. Others sneak in through Europe, telling tales of kidnap threats or village attacks to win their case. They’re also pointing to Nigeria’s harsh cybercrime laws or troubles over who they love, which fit the UK’s rules for asylum showing real fear for their lives based on race, religion, politics, or identity. Charles Onunaiju, a top researcher from Abuja’s Centre for China Studies, was quoteed saying, “Nigeria’s becoming a hard place, especially for young folks with no jobs. They’re desperate to leave.” And with the UK’s asylum system still open despite new laws, many are taking their shot.
But this wave isn’t just the UK’s problem as it’s hitting Nigeria hard too. Dr. Aliyu Ilias, an Abuja economist, warned that losing skilled people like doctors and engineers is draining the country. “It’s brain drain, pure and simple,” he said. “We train them cheap here, but they end up building someone else’s economy.” The UK’s trying to tighten up with the Illegal Migration Act 2023, which blocks claims from those passing through safe countries, and a stalled Rwanda deal to send asylum seekers away. For now, though, most Nigerians are still going through the regular process. As the numbers climb, Nigeria’s talent keeps slipping away, and the UK’s left juggling a growing pile of pleas.