TOKYO (Chatnewstv.com) — Japan on Tuesday denied reports that it would issue special visas for Nigerians under the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s “Africa Hometown” initiative, asking Abuja to retract its announcement made after the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9).
The Japanese Foreign Ministry said a press release issued by Nigeria’s presidency last week contained “information inconsistent with the facts, such as the issuance of a special visa.”
“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 said in a statement.
Nigeria had claimed that Japan would “create a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians who want to move to Kisarazu (the city assigned to Nigeria as a partner) to live and work,” according to Kyodo News.
Tokyo asked Nigeria to “correct the press release and issue a new one” clarifying the matter.
The denial followed online speculation that Japan was opening its doors to African migrants to ease labor shortages and revitalize its shrinking rural areas.
Under the JICA initiative, four Japanese cities are paired with four African countries to promote cultural and economic exchanges. But the ministry stressed the program “does not involve any immigration measures.”
Nearly 50 African leaders, including presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers, attended TICAD 9 in Yokohama last week. Japan pledged $5.5 billion in loans to African nations to promote sustainable development.
