Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied reports that it created special visa opportunities for Nigerian immigrants, contradicting claims made by the Bola Tinubu administration.
The denial came after Abiodun Oladunjoye, Director of Information at the State House, announced last Friday that Japan would soon begin issuing special visas to “highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians” who wish to live and work in Kisarazu.
He added that artisans and blue-collar workers ready to upgrade their skills would also benefit from the arrangement.
According to Mr. Oladunjoye, the supposed initiative was linked to the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) Africa Hometown Programme, which aims to strengthen ties between Japan and several African nations.
He further explained that Japan had designated Kisarazu as a “hometown” for Nigeria, while Tanzanians, Ghanaians, and Mozambicans were linked with Nagai, Sanjo, and Imabari, respectively, as part of the scheme announced at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9).
However, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong rebuttal on Monday, insisting that the Nigerian government misrepresented the purpose of the program.
“There are no plans to take measures to promote the acceptance of immigrants or issue special visas for residents of African countries,” the Japanese government said.
The ministry clarified that the initiative was designed to foster cultural and developmental exchanges between the selected Japanese cities and African nations, not to facilitate immigration or create work visa opportunities.
The government stressed that the hometown initiative involves partnerships, visits, and community-based activities but does not extend to residency or employment privileges.
This contradiction has raised questions about the accuracy of communication from Nigeria’s presidency regarding international partnerships.
Critics argue that such misrepresentations could undermine Nigeria’s diplomatic credibility and create unrealistic expectations for young Nigerians seeking opportunities abroad.
For now, the Japanese government has made it clear: there will be no special visa categories for Nigerians or any other African nationals under the hometown programme.
Instead, the initiative will remain focused on strengthening bilateral ties through non-immigration-based exchanges.
