No Special Visa Plans For Nigerians Relocating To Designated Hometowns–Japan

Japan has denied plans to create a special visa category for Nigerians looking to relocate to Kisarazu, a city designated as “hometown” for Nigerians. This contradicts earlier announcements made by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The 9th Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD9) saw JICA announce the “JICA Africa Hometown” initiative, aimed at strengthening exchanges between African countries and Japanese local governments. Kisarazu was named as the designated hometown for Nigerians.

The Nigerian government had announced that the partnership would create a special visa category for highly skilled and talented young Nigerians to live and work in Kisarazu. This was seen as part of efforts to deepen cultural diplomacy and promote economic growth.

However, the Japanese Foreign Ministry has denied knowledge of plans to issue special visas for Africans willing to reside in designated cities. The ministry stated that reports and announcements concerning such measures are untrue.

The Japanese government has confirmed plans to promote exchanges between four Japanese cities and four African countries through various activities, including exchange events and cooperation volunteers.

The partnership aims to foster a foundation for two-way exchanges for manpower development, adding value to economic growth in Japan and participating African nations. Local authorities hope the designations will increase population and contribute to regional revitalization efforts.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced $5.5 billion in new investment in Africa at TICAD9, emphasizing the importance of mutual understanding, local solutions, and collaborative efforts for Africa’s development.