- Japan Denies Plans for Special Visa Programme for Skilled Nigerians
- The ministry emphasised that recent reports suggesting immigration-related benefits are incorrect
- JICA Africa Hometown programme is designed solely to encourage cultural and economic exchanges
Japan has refuted claims that it plans to introduce a special visa category for skilled Nigerians seeking to relocate to Kisarazu, the Japanese city recently designated as Nigeria’s “hometown” under a cultural exchange programme.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Abiodun Oladunjoye, Director of Information at the State House, had earlier stated on August 22 that Japan would create a visa programme for highly skilled and talented Nigerians wishing to live and work in Kisarazu.
He also claimed that artisans and other blue-collar workers looking to upgrade their skills would benefit from the initiative.
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However, Japan’s foreign ministry dismissed these claims on Monday, clarifying that there are no plans to issue special visas or promote large-scale immigration from African countries.
It explained that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Africa Hometown programme is designed solely to encourage cultural and economic exchanges between four Japanese cities and four African nations through activities such as exchange events involving JICA overseas cooperation volunteers.
The ministry emphasised that recent reports suggesting immigration-related benefits are incorrect and assured that it would continue to provide accurate information to avoid public misunderstanding.
The clarification comes after the official launch of the JICA Africa Hometown initiative during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) held last week in Yokohama.
Under the programme, JICA has paired four Japanese cities with four African countries: Kisarazu with Nigeria, Nagai with Tanzania, Sanjo with Ghana, and Imabari with Mozambique.
While confirming the existence of the hometown partnership, the Japanese government reiterated that it does not involve special visa provisions or immigration measures.
