The Japanese government has clarified that its new “JICA Africa Hometown” initiative does not provide Nigerians or other Africans with special visas or immigration privileges.
In a statement released on Monday, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed reports suggesting that Nigerians relocating to Kisarazu city would benefit from a new visa category, describing such claims as “contrary to the facts.”
The ministry explained that the Africa Hometown programme, launched by the Japan International Cooperation Agency during the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, is aimed at enhancing exchanges between African nations 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 added.
This clarification comes after the Federal Government, through a statement signed by the Director of Information at the State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye, claimed last week that Japan had designated Kisarazu city as the “hometown” for Nigerians and would introduce a special visa category for highly skilled youths relocating there to work and live.
“Artisans and other blue-collar workers from Nigeria who are ready to upskill will also benefit from the special dispensation visa to work in Japan,” the statement had partly read.
Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Japan, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, together with Kisarazu Mayor Yoshikuni Watanabe, received a certificate officially naming the city the “hometown” of Nigerians.
