By Ayo Kehinde
Japan has dismissed reports that its new “JICA Africa Hometown” programme offers special visas to Nigerians or other Africans.
Recall that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has designated four Japanese cities as African hometowns.
The hometown partnership aims to boost cultural, technical, and developmental collaboration by pairing African countries with Japanese cities that already have ties. As part of the arrangement, Nigeria was linked to Kisarazu, while Tanzania was connected to Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture, Ghana to Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture, and Mozambique to Imabari in Ehime Prefecture.
However, after the four Japanese cities were designated as African hometowns, the city governments said they have been inundated with calls and emails, that the initiative also includes immigration or visa privileges.
The Tokyo Foreign Ministry clarified on Monday that the initiative, launched at TICAD 9, is aimed at promoting cultural and developmental exchanges between African nations and four Japanese cities, but does not include immigration or visa privileges.
According to the Foreign Ministry, Tokyo has “no plans to take measures to promote the acceptance of immigrants or issue special visas for residents of African countries.
“There have been reports and statements both domestically and internationally that contain information contrary to the facts.”
The ministry emphasised that the government-linked aid agency, known as JICA, only plans to promote exchanges through various activities.
