The Japanese government has officially dismissed reports suggesting that its new JICA Africa Hometown initiative includes the issuance of special visas or immigration opportunities for Nigerians or other African citizens.
In a statement released on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described such claims as “contrary to the facts.”
The clarification followed widespread speculation after the programme was launched during the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD).
The Ministry emphasized that the initiative, unveiled by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was designed to foster partnerships between African countries and Japanese local governments, not to create immigration pathways.
“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,” the statement read.
The government reiterated that recent media reports claiming otherwise were misleading and should be disregarded.
According to officials, the Africa Hometown Project designates four Japanese cities as “hometowns” for four African countries.
The initiative seeks to strengthen cultural and economic exchanges through activities such as community events and volunteer programs.
“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,” the ministry added.
The Ministry further assured that it would continue working to ensure accurate communication about the programme’s scope.
“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 stressed.
Meanwhile, observers note that the misinterpretation highlights the sensitivity surrounding immigration discussions, particularly for Nigerians seeking opportunities abroad.
Many had initially viewed the project as an immigration channel, which has now been ruled out.
The Japanese government underlined that the Africa Hometown initiative is rooted in strengthening people-to-people ties, not migration policy.
Moreover, it reflects Japan’s broader commitment to deepen cooperation with African nations in areas such as education, cultural exchange, and development projects.
