The Government of Japan has dismissed reports suggesting that Nigerians moving to Kisarazu city under its newly launched “JICA Africa Hometown” initiative would be granted special visas or immigration privileges.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said such reports were “contrary to the facts,” stressing that the programme is aimed at cultural and developmental exchanges and not immigration facilitation.
“Under this programme, four cities in Japan are designated as hometowns for four African countries. 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,” the ministry explained.
The statement further clarified: “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 clarification followed reports in Nigeria last week claiming that Japan had created a special visa category for highly skilled Nigerians moving to Kisarazu, reports The Guardian.
The statement, signed by the Director of Information at the State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye, suggested that artisans and other Nigerian workers would also benefit from a “special dispensation visa” to live and work in the city.
At the launch of the “Hometown” initiative during the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Japan, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, and the Mayor of Kisarazu, Yoshikuni Watanabe, jointly received a certificate designating the city as the official “hometown” for Nigerians.
Similar designations were made for Ghana, Tanzania, and Mozambique with Sanjo, Nagai, and Imabari cities, respectively.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, in his keynote address at TICAD9, announced $5.5 billion in new investments across Africa while highlighting the programme as part of efforts to deepen mutual understanding and collaboration.
“Japan is providing various cooperation and support for Africa. But first of all, Japan needs to know more about Africa. So, in creating solutions together, this co-creation at TICAD 9, we focus on three important areas: private sector-led sustainable growth, youth and women, and regional integration,” he said.
Although Japan acknowledged the pressures of its ageing population and shrinking agricultural land, officials maintained that the “Hometown” initiative is designed for exchange and development purposes rather than immigration or visa reforms.
Kisarazu, which hosted Nigeria’s contingent during the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, is expected to serve as a hub for educational, cultural, and technical cooperation between both countries.
