Japan Denies Special Visa Plans For Nigerians Under Africa Hometown Initiative

The Japanese government has officially denied claims that it plans to introduce a special visa category for skilled Nigerians or increase immigration from African countries under the new “JICA Africa Hometown” initiative. Announced at the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, the program pairs four Japanese cities with four African countries to promote cultural, educational, and developmental exchanges, not immigration privileges. Despite earlier statements from Nigerian officials suggesting that Kisarazu city would grant special visas to highly skilled Nigerians and artisans, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified there are no plans to issue such visas or promote immigrant acceptance. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will instead focus on fostering exchanges through events and cooperation volunteers without altering immigration policies. This clarification aims to correct misinformation and manage public expectations about the nature of Japan’s engagement with African countries under this initiative. The government emphasized its commitment to accurate communication regarding the program’s objectives.