By Peter Omopo
Tokyo, September 26, 2025 — The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has scrapped its “Africa Hometown” initiative, citing widespread “misunderstandings and confusion” surrounding the programme, particularly claims that it would provide special visas for Nigerians and other Africans.
JICA announced the cancellation in a statement on Thursday, weeks after media reports suggested that Nigerians could relocate to Kisarazu City, one of the four Japanese municipalities linked to the initiative, under a new visa category.
On August 26, the Japanese government denied the visa plan, following a statement from the Nigerian State House suggesting Tokyo would introduce a “special visa category” for skilled and innovative young Nigerians.
Clarifying its position, JICA said the use of the term “hometown” and the idea of “designating” municipalities as such placed an “excessive burden” on the participating cities.
The agency explained:
“Originally, under this initiative, it was envisioned that exchange programs would be coordinated among Japanese local governments, African countries, and JICA. However, the very nature of the initiative led to misunderstandings and confusion within Japan. JICA sincerely apologizes to the municipalities involved.”
The “Africa Hometown” project, launched in August at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), was designed to foster cultural and educational exchanges between four African nations and four Japanese municipalities.
While reiterating its withdrawal, JICA stressed that it has never undertaken initiatives to promote immigration and has “no plans to do so in the future.” Instead, the agency said it would continue supporting other forms of international cooperation and exchange.
The clarification followed heightened speculation after Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Japan, Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, and Kisarazu Mayor Yoshikuni Watanabe, received a certificate symbolically naming the city as a “hometown” for Nigerians—an act that further fuelled reports of migration opportunities.
With the withdrawal, the agency emphasised that Japan’s engagement with African countries will remain rooted in developmental, cultural, and educational partnerships, not immigration.
