The Japanese government has denied reports that it was creating a special visa category for skilled Nigerians wishing to relocate to Kisarazu, the city it recently designated as “hometown” for Nigerians under a new cultural exchange initiative.
The clarification followed widespread reports last week, citing a statement from the presidency that Tokyo would introduce a special visa for “highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians” seeking to live and work in Kisarazu.
The statement, signed by Abiodun Oladunjoye, Director of Information at the State House, further claimed artisans and blue-collar workers willing to upskill would also benefit from the arrangement.
But, in a statement issued Monday, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said no such immigration policy was in the works.
“The ‘JICA Africa Hometown’ programme 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 ministry said.
“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.”
LEADERSHIP reports that the programme was announced during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, where the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) unveiled the “JICA Africa Hometown” initiative aimed at fostering closer ties between Africa and local Japanese communities.
Under the scheme, Kisarazu was designated as Nigeria’s hometown; Nagai for Tanzania; Sanjo for Ghana; and Imabari for Mozambique. The initiative is expected to focus on cultural, educational, and people-to-people exchanges rather than immigration.
Japan’s foreign ministry added that it would “continue to issue appropriate statements on the subject” to avoid further misinformation.
