More than 21,800 refugees and asylum seekers in Nigeria remain unregistered, leaving them without access to food aid, healthcare and other essential services, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Data from the November 2025 UNHCR dashboard show that Nigeria hosts about 127,000 refugees and asylum seekers from 41 countries. Of this number, 21,807 individuals are still awaiting registration, alongside 80,915 recognised refugees and over 25,000 asylum seekers whose cases are under review.
The registration backlog has fluctuated sharply over the past year, rising from 21,095 in December 2024 to a peak of 32,750 in June 2025, before easing to current levels. UNHCR data suggest that new arrivals continue to outpace Nigeria’s registration capacity.
Unregistered refugees are ineligible for UNHCR food stipends, cash assistance, health insurance and other humanitarian support, leaving thousands vulnerable within host communities.
Cameroonians fleeing the protracted Anglophone conflict account for 86 per cent of Nigeria’s refugee population, followed by smaller numbers from Niger, the Central African Republic, Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Women and children make up the majority of refugees, with children representing nearly 60 per cent.
Most refugees live within host communities across Cross River, Taraba, Benue, Adamawa and Akwa Ibom states, rather than in formal camps, while urban centres such as Lagos and Abuja host refugees from diverse nationalities.
Officials cite staffing shortages, security challenges and logistical constraints—particularly in border states—as key factors slowing registration. Refugee status determination typically takes three to six months, though procedures are often adjusted during mass influxes.
The backlog comes as Nigeria manages wider displacement pressures, including 3.5 million internally displaced persons and the impact of climate-related disasters. Analysts warn that without faster registration and sustained funding, gaps in protection and service delivery could widen despite Nigeria’s longstanding commitment to international refugee conventions.
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