The Japanese government has dismissed reports that Nigerians and other Africans will receive special visas or immigration privileges under its new “JICA Africa Hometown” initiative.
In a statement issued on Monday, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the reports as “contrary to the facts,” stressing that the programme is focused on cultural and developmental exchange, not immigration.
The clarification followed widespread claims that Nigerians moving to Kisarazu city would be offered a new visa category. According to the ministry, the initiative was introduced during the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), where the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) launched the “Africa Hometown” programme.
“Under this program, four cities in Japan are designated as ‘home towns’ for four African countries,” the ministry explained.
“JICA plans to promote exchanges between the four Japanese cities and the four African countries through various activities, including exchange events involving JICA overseas cooperation volunteers.
“On the other hand, there are no plans to take measures to promote the acceptance of immigrants or issue special visas for residents of African countries, and the series of reports and announcements concerning such measures are not true,” the ministry said.
Japan’s statement directly contradicts an earlier announcement released by Nigeria’s State House. The statement, signed by the Director of Information, Abiodun Oladunjoye, had claimed that Kisarazu city was designated the “hometown” for Nigerians and that a special visa category would be created for highly skilled youths, artisans, and blue-collar workers.
At the time, Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Japan, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, alongside Kisarazu’s Mayor, Yoshikuni Watanabe, had reportedly received a certificate naming the city the “hometown” of Nigerians.
For now, Japan maintains that the initiative is strictly about people-to-people exchange and cooperation, not immigration or employment visas.
