End SARS: Canada makes clarification on refugee applications, lists organizations qualified for submission

Canada has said that it does not accept refugee applications directly from people, following reports that Disc Jockey, DJ Switch was granted asylum after fleeing Nigeria.

The Canadian high commission in Nigeria gave this clarification days after media reports circulated that DJ Switch, real name Obianuju Catherine Udeh has been granted asylum in Canada over alleged death threats on her life for recording the shooting incident at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos on October 20, 2020.

She had live-streamed via Instagram, the shooting of peaceful protesters by men of the Nigerian army on that fateful day.

The speculations that she had been granted refugee status in the North American country intensified on Monday when the DJ testified before a committee of the Canadian parliament via video conference.

Although the disc jockey did not claim to be in Canada, Nigerians went agog on Twitter with rumours that she had been granted asylum.

But the high commission in a tweet posted on Wednesday, said that it can only consider applications from individuals who must be referred by a designated referral organisation or a private sponsor and warned against rumours and false information online.

“In light of recent events, we have received great interest in Canadian immigration programs.

“Canadian Embassies, High Commissions, Consulates, Consulates General or Honorary Consulates do not accept refugee applications directly from people. Canada works with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), other designated referral organizations and private sponsors to identify individuals in need of resettlement, and who are outside their home country.

“You cannot apply directly for resettlement. You must be referred to Canada by a designated referral organization or a private sponsor. Don’t be fooled by rumours or false information online. No one can guarantee that your immigration application will be fast-tracked or approved. Only a Canadian migration officer can decide if you can come to Canada.

“All the information you need to apply to visit or immigrate to Canada is available free on the official Government of Canada website: http://cic.gc.ca. For information about other immigration programs you might be eligible for, use the Come to Canada tool: http://Canada.ca/come-to-canada,” the statement read.