On Monday, Marc Miller, the Canadian immigration minister, announced that the North American country was considering reducing the number of foreign students admitted into the country for two years.

Miller said the planned reduction was necessary just so the Canadian government could address the housing and healthcare issues currently being faced in the country.

The move is expected to result in a 35 percent decrease in the total number of approved study permits for 2024.

The recently announced plan will, however, only apply to students in a diploma or undergraduate programme and will not affect students applying for study permit renewals.

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NIGERIAN STUDENTS SPEAK

In an interview with FIJ, a cross-section of Nigerian students planning to relocate to Canada aired their views on the development.

“I am now at a critical stage in my life, and I cannot afford to take chances on matters that are connected to my future,” a Nigerian student, who wished to be simply referred to as Michael, told FIJ.

“I honestly have been eyeing Canada for a while now in terms of my study plans. However, if the country’s government is saying it wants to reduce foreign student intake at the undergraduate level, it then means that admission slots will be keenly contested.

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“That is enough to even discourage me from wanting to apply to any Canadian school this year. With the situation of things in Nigeria now, especially in the area of the economy, I cannot afford to waste my time and resources on aspirations that will not work out in the end.

“I would rather try Portugal or Italy instead.”

Rose Joshua (not real name), another student, told FIJ that the announcement would not deter her from her Japa plans.

“My Canadian Japa plans remain intact despite the recent announcement,” Joshua told FIJ.

“I will be applying with the belief that the reduction will not in any way affect me. Application rejection is not my portion! Even if Canada decides to admit just 100 people this year, I will be one of them.

“I don’t love Nigeria that much again, and I’ll do anything to move to a better country, especially Canada.”

Joshua added that she had been planning to apply to a Canadian school since 2022 and nothing would stop her from actualising her plan now.

While speaking to FIJ on the matter, a student who asked to be called Hameed said, “Canada is the place to be.”

“My brother, Canada is the place to be right now. The reduction in the number of students to be admitted this year will only affect those who have submitted applications that are not convincing enough.

“I know what I am bringing to the table, and I am sure I will be in Canada this year. I don’t see an impediment; I see an opportunity.”

A student who introduced himself as Ben described the announcement as a “hostile move”.

“I don’t see it as a friendly plan,” said Ben.

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“Come to think of it, it is not as if Nigerians don’t contribute anything to their economy in terms of revenue generation and manpower. Why do countries love to come up with such announcements all the time? Is it that we don’t always contribute anything to their development?

“I don’t blame them, though. If our country were okay and conducive enough to live in, nobody would be thinking of relocating elsewhere.”

When FIJ asked Ben whether he would still apply to a Canadian school this year, he answered, “Maybe.”

POPULATION GROWTH

In 2022, Canada grew by over a million people in the span of one year for the first time ever. A study conducted showed that the growth was largely driven by the influx of foreign students. Last year, Canada’s population hit a record of 40 million people.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, a national housing agency, estimates that the country will need 3.5 million more housing units by 2030 to restore affordability.

In November 2023, a report by ApplyBoard.com showed that Nigerians had become Canada’s fastest-growing student population.

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Nearly 18,000 Canadian study permits were issued to Nigerians in the first six months of 2023, more than for any other country but India.

According to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), approvals for Nigerians went from 2,788 in 2019 to 23,930 in 2023, and this represents a 758 percent increase.