The Japanese government has clarified that its new “JICA Africa Hometown” initiative does not include granting Nigerians or other Africans special visas or immigration privileges.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan said reports suggesting that Nigerians moving to Kisarazu city would enjoy a new visa category were “contrary to the facts.”

The ministry of foreign affairs of japan stated that the africa hometown program, launched by the japan international cooperation agency, aims to strengthen exchanges between african countries and japanese local governments.

It added that there are no plans to promote the acceptance of immigrants or issue special visas for residents of African countries.

The federal government announced that Japan had designated Kisarazu city as the “hometown” for Nigerians and would create a special visa category for highly skilled and talented youths moving there to live and work in the energy space, with significant improvement in the operating environment”.