Nigerians Seek Asylum in Cyprus: 6,704 Applications Recorded

A report indicates that from 2021 to 2025, a total of 6,704 Nigerians applied for asylum in Cyprus, according to data from the European Council on Refugees and Exiles. The number of Nigerian applications peaked at 3,148 in 2022 but dropped to 554 in 2024 and is projected to be 428 in 2025.

The rejection rate for Nigerian asylum seekers is notably high, with 98.2% of applications rejected in 2021 and 98.4% in both 2022 and 2023. Only 11 Nigerians were granted refugee status in 2021, with no subsidiary protection granted that year.

In 2022, there were no grants of subsidiary protection, and in 2023, only two were granted. The report also highlights that Nigeria consistently ranks among the top four countries of origin for asylum seekers in Cyprus.

The Cypriot government has designated Nigeria as a safe country of origin, which contributes to the high rejection rates of asylum claims.