The number of citizens from Nigeria seeking international protection in Ireland has surged to the highest among all applicant groups this year, even as the system struggles with record backlogs and tougher immigration rules.
Fresh figures from Ireland’s Department of Justice show that Nigerians filed 1,083 asylum applications in 2025, more than any other nationality. They are followed by Pakistanis (945), Somalis (933), Afghans (767) and Georgians (462).
But while applications have slowed overall, down 41 percent year-on-year to 7,207, the real challenge has shifted to appeals. The International Protection Appeals Tribunal is now overwhelmed with 14,529 pending cases as of August, more than double the 6,257 recorded a year ago.
For many Nigerians, this means long waits, mounting uncertainty, and higher chances of rejection. Of all final decisions made in July, over half (57.4 percent) were refusals, while just 40 percent resulted in asylum being granted.
The government in Dublin has tightened its policies in recent months, from speeding up processing for some countries, to increasing deportations and changing welfare benefits for asylum seekers. Deportation orders alone are up by 119 percent this year, with Nigeria and other African nationals likely among those most affected.
So far in 2025, 1,270 people have left Ireland under deportation or voluntary return programmes, and voluntary returns have tripled compared to last year. Officials confirm that three charter flights have already carried more than 100 people out of the country.
The pressure is being felt on both sides. Applicants complain of being left in limbo for months and sometimes years, while Irish authorities admit the system almost collapsed last year as applications skyrocketed by nearly 400 percent between 2022 and 2023.
Dublin has since pumped in more money and hired extra staff, but the backlog remains stubborn. Even with recent improvements, it still takes about 67 weeks on average for a standard case to be decided, down from 82 weeks at the start of the year.
For Nigerians in Ireland, the stakes are high. Many are pinning their hopes on appeals, while the government is betting on faster processing and stricter enforcement to bring numbers under control. In the meantime, the waiting game continues, with thousands caught between aspiration and rejection.
