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The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has officially scrapped its Africa Hometown initiative, citing widespread “misunderstandings and confusion” surrounding the programme.
The project, launched during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in August, was initially designed to foster cultural and educational exchanges between four African countries and four Japanese municipalities.
However, it quickly became mired in controversy after reports suggested it would create migration opportunities for Nigerians and other Africans.
Confusion over ‘special visa’ claims
The controversy began on August 26 when Nigeria’s State House issued a statement claiming that Japan planned to introduce a “special visa category” for highly skilled young Nigerians to live and work in Kisarazu City.
The announcement sparked excitement among many Nigerians eager for overseas opportunities.
But Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately denied the claim, stressing that no immigration benefits were attached to the JICA initiative.
The government clarified that the project was limited to cultural and developmental exchanges, not visas.
“Unfortunately, the wording of ‘hometown’ and the impression that municipalities were being officially designated as African hubs created serious misunderstandings,” JICA explained in its Thursday statement.
Why the programme was withdrawn
JICA noted that the choice of terms placed “an excessive burden” on the four Japanese municipalities selected for the scheme, including Kisarazu.
The agency said it never had plans to facilitate immigration and regretted the confusion that arose.
“After consultations with all parties, we have resolved to withdraw the Africa Hometown initiative.
“We deeply apologise to the municipalities and stakeholders who were affected by this development,” JICA added.
A source familiar with the discussions told reporters that some local officials in Japan had raised concerns about the perception that their cities would be migration gateways. “The backlash was stronger than expected,” the source said.
Nigeria’s role in the mix-up
The confusion was further fuelled when Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Japan, Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, and Kisarazu’s Mayor, Yoshikuni Watanabe, participated in a ceremony where the city was symbolically declared the “hometown” for Nigerians.
The event was widely reported in Nigerian media as proof of a migration programme.
A Lagos-based analyst on Japan–Africa relations, Dr Tolu Olayemi, described the development as a “classic case of miscommunication.”
He noted, “Expectations around foreign migration are always sensitive. Once the word ‘visa’ was introduced, the narrative became difficult to control.”
JICA’s next steps
While the Africa Hometown project has been shelved, JICA emphasised that it remains committed to supporting other forms of international cooperation with African nations.
These include educational partnerships, developmental assistance, and cultural exchange programmes.
“JICA has never promoted immigration and does not intend to in the future,” the agency reiterated.
Observers say the incident highlights how migration-related narratives can easily spiral, especially when official communication lacks clarity.
For many young Africans seeking opportunities abroad, the cancellation comes as a disappointment.