The Japanese government has denied claims by the Nigerian presidency that it was set to introduce a special visa category for Nigerians under the newly launched “Africa Hometown” initiative.
The clarification comes after the Nigerian government announced that Japan had agreed to create migration opportunities for young and skilled Nigerians, including artisans and professionals, during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama last week.
According to the Nigerian presidency’s statement, the arrangement would have allowed Nigerians to relocate to Kisarazu City in Japan, which was paired with Nigeria under the programme, to live and work with access to a special visa channel.
However, in a swift response, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the claim as inaccurate. The ministry stressed that the “Africa Hometown” scheme, launched by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is strictly a cultural and developmental exchange programme, not an immigration or labour migration policy.
Local authorities in Kisarazu City, which hosted Nigeria’s Olympic team in 2020, also confirmed that there are no plans to issue special visas or accept Nigerian migrants under the programme. Officials emphasised that the partnership with Nigeria is focused on fostering friendship, cultural exchange, and mutual development projects.
Following the rebuttal from Tokyo, Nigeria’s State House on Wednesday retracted its earlier announcement. It clarified that the programme does not include any special immigration arrangement and admitted that its earlier statement had misrepresented the scope of Japan’s initiative.
The episode has drawn criticism from commentators who say the premature announcement by the Nigerian government could undermine its credibility in international diplomacy. Observers also note that the correction underscores the importance of careful communication on sensitive issues like migration, especially at a time when such policies can easily stir public emotions.
