ICYMI: Confusion And Misinformation From The Nigerian Govt Force Japan To Scrap Its ‘Africa Hometown’ Project

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has announced the termination of its ‘JICA Africa Hometown’ initiative, following weeks of mounting confusion, backlash, and protests in Japan.

Tanaka Akihiko, JICA president, confirmed the decision during a press briefing on Thursday, stressing that the programme had been “misunderstood” both in Japan and in Africa.

The controversy began on August 22, when the initiative was unveiled on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD9). Under the programme, four Japanese municipalities were symbolically paired with African nations: Kisarazu with Nigeria, Nagai with Tanzania, Sanjo with Ghana, and Imabari with Mozambique.

Days later, a statement released by Abiodun Oladunjoye, Director of Information at Nigeria’s State House, claimed that Japan was creating a “special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians” to relocate to Kisarazu.

Tokyo swiftly denied the claim on August 26, clarifying that no such immigration arrangement existed. Similar misinformation also spread in Tanzania, where local media erroneously reported that Nagai city would become part of the East African nation.

Despite official rebuttals, Japanese citizens voiced growing concerns online over public safety, resource strain, and immigration control. Social media backlash soon translated into street protests, pressuring JICA to reconsider.

In a formal statement, JICA admitted that “the very nature of this initiative, namely, the term ‘hometown’ and the fact that JICA would ‘designate’ Japanese local governments as hometowns, led to misunderstandings and confusion within Japan, placing an excessive burden on the four municipalities.”

The agency issued an apology to the cities involved and emphasised that it “has never undertaken initiatives to promote immigration and has no plans to do so in the future.”

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