The government of Japan has refuted special visa claims for Nigerians under the Japan-Nigeria Hometown Initiative.
The government, in a press statement issued on Monday, clarified that the program focuses solely on cultural and economic exchanges, not immigration.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan refuted the special visa claims stating that they were “contrary to the facts.”
The ministry explained that during the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, the Japan International Cooperation Agency launched the Africa Hometown programme to strengthen exchanges between African countries and Japanese local governments.
The statement reads: “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 is 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 comes after reports emerged following the conclusion of the 9th Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD9) held in Yokohama from August 20–23, 2025, where the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) launched the “JICA Africa Hometown” program, designating Kisarazu as Nigeria’s symbolic “hometown.”
The reports emerged after Abiodun Oladunjoye, Director of Information at Nigeria’s State House released a statement on August 22, claiming that Japan would introduce a special visa category for skilled Nigerians to relocate to Kisarazu.
The statement suggested opportunities for artisans and blue-collar workers to upskill and live in the city.
“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 partly read.
Meanwhile, Nigerians have begun to react to Japan’s clarification on the Kisarazu hometown initiative.
Reacting to this development, Bolaji Abdullahi, the national publicity secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), criticised the administration of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu administration.
Abdullahi stated that Tinubu’s administration is allegedly desperate for positive headlines.
He said: “At #TICAD9, the APC Federal Government claimed that the Japanese authorities had agreed to issue ‘special visa categories’”’ to Nigerians.
“This denial by the Japanese authorities shows that the Tinubu/APC government has become so desperate for positive headlines that they would not mind spreading #FakeNews.
“The truth is, with this government, we don’t know what to believe anymore. This embarrassment just has to stop.”
Below are some other reactions;
