The Government of Japan has dismissed claims that its new “JICA Africa Hometown” programme includes a special visa category or immigration privileges for Nigerians and other Africans.
In a statement released on Monday, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described reports suggesting that Nigerians relocating to Kisarazu city would benefit from a new visa arrangement as “contrary to the facts.”
The ministry clarified that the initiative, launched during the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was designed to deepen cultural and developmental exchanges between African countries and Japanese local governments.
“Under this program, four cities in Japan are designated as ‘home towns’ for four African countries. JICA plans to promote exchanges between the four Japanese cities and the four African countries through various activities, including the organisation of exchange events involving JICA overseas cooperation volunteers,” the statement explained.
The ministry stressed that the programme does not include any plans to grant immigration privileges, accept new categories of immigrants, or issue special visas to Africans.
This clarification comes after reports last week suggested that Nigeria had been assigned Kisarazu city as its “hometown” in Japan and that special visas would be created for skilled Nigerian youths and artisans moving to live and work there. The announcement, attributed to the Federal Government and signed by the State House Director of Information, Abiodun Oladunjoye, had stated that blue-collar workers willing to upskill would also benefit from the arrangement.
Japan has now reaffirmed that such claims are inaccurate and emphasized the need for accurate reporting on the matter.
