Japan Debunks Special Visa Claims for Nigerians in ‘Hometown’ Initiative

Japan has dismissed reports claiming that Nigerians will receive special visas under its new “JICA Africa Hometown” initiative.

Punch reported today that the Federal Government of Nigeria, in a statement signed by the Director of Information at the State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye, announced Japan’s designation of Kisarazu City as the “hometown” for Nigerians, adding that a special visa category would be created for highly skilled youths and artisans moving to live and work in the city.

However, in a statement issued on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan said such reports were misleading and “contrary to the facts.”

The ministry explained that during the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) launched the Africa Hometown Programme to strengthen cooperation between African countries and Japanese local governments.

“Under this program, four cities in Japan are designated as ‘home towns’ for four African countries. Under this program, 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.

“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 of Foreign Affairs of Japan will continue to make efforts to ensure that appropriate reporting and statements regarding this matter are carried out,” the statement read.

Punch also noted that Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Japan, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, alongside Kisarazu’s Mayor Yoshikuni Watanabe, received a certificate naming the city as the “hometown” of Nigerians.

Japan’s clarification emphasizes that the initiative is limited to cultural exchange and cooperation, not immigration or visa concessions.