In 2024, Sweden witnessed a notable influx of asylum seekers from Nigeria, with at least 375 Nigerian citizens applying for protection, according to data released by the Swedish Migration Agency. This figure comprised 239 initial applications and 136 subsequent extension requests from individuals whose temporary residency was nearing expiration. The majority of these applicants were adults of working age, with a significant gender disparity observed among first-time applicants. Women constituted almost two-thirds of these initial claims, numbering 159 compared to 80 men. The data further reveals that half of all Nigerian applicants fell within the 25-44 age bracket, with no applications received from individuals over 64 years old. A significant number of children, 60, accompanied adult applicants, while only one child applied as an unaccompanied minor.
Nigeria’s volume of asylum applications positioned it as the fourth highest among African nations and ninth overall among all nationalities seeking refuge in Sweden. Eritrea topped the list with a substantially higher number of applicants at 2,692, followed by Somalia (1,316) and Ethiopia (597). Trailing Nigeria were Sudan (257) and Uganda (255). Several other African countries also contributed to the asylum seeker population, including Morocco (173), Egypt (165), Cameroon (132), Gambia and Burundi (slightly over 100 each), Kenya and Libya (approximately 75 each), Algeria (60), and Tunisia (under 60). A handful of applications also originated from Rwanda, Tanzania, Ghana, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and single-digit filings from Mali, Zambia, Djibouti, Côte d’Ivoire, Angola, Zimbabwe, and Burkina Faso. Additionally, five isolated cases were recorded from Benin, Niger, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic, and Mauritania.
While Nigeria figured among the top ten nationalities granted initial residence permits, it also appeared prominently on the list of nationalities facing higher rejection rates. This reflects the increasingly stringent asylum policies adopted by Sweden in recent years. The Swedish Migration Agency, the sole authority for adjudicating asylum claims, operates under the Aliens Act (2005:716), which aligns with the 1951 Geneva Convention, the EU Qualification Directive, and Sweden’s own humanitarian protection legislation. However, significant policy shifts following the 2015 migrant crisis and the subsequent 2023 Tidö Agreement have led to tighter regulations, making it considerably more challenging for individuals seeking asylum to obtain protection.
The 2015 influx prompted the Swedish parliament to enact a temporary emergency law that restricted family reunification rights and limited most new permits to temporary status. These measures were subsequently made permanent in 2021. The 2023 Tidö Agreement, a product of the center-right coalition government supported by the far-right Sweden Democrats, further solidified these restrictions by adopting the EU’s minimum level of protection. This approach emphasizes stricter naturalization requirements and welfare regulations as deterrents to asylum seekers. Under current Swedish law, asylum is granted only to those who can demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution, risk of torture or death, exposure to indiscriminate violence, or exceptionally distressing humanitarian circumstances.
These stringent criteria have significantly lowered the success rate of asylum claims for many African and Middle Eastern nationalities. Experts attribute the rising number of Nigerian asylum seekers to a confluence of factors within Nigeria, including persistent insurgency, rampant banditry, widespread kidnappings, and a declining economic landscape exacerbated by the devaluation of the naira in 2023. These conditions create a sense of desperation, particularly among young people facing limited opportunities, leading them to seek refuge elsewhere.
This outward migration of Nigerians, many of whom are skilled professionals, raises concerns about brain drain and its potential impact on the Nigerian economy. The cost of training professionals in Nigeria is often subsidized, making it considerably more affordable than pursuing similar education abroad. The permanent settlement of these individuals in other countries represents a loss of valuable human capital for Nigeria and contributes to a decline in the country’s GDP. The prospect of asylum, despite its inherent uncertainties, is often viewed as a more promising option than facing the ongoing challenges at home. This highlights the complex interplay of socio-economic and security factors driving migration flows and the resulting challenges for both the sending and receiving countries.
