Controversy over Japan’s ‘special visa’ for Nigerians

Japan has countered the federal government’s claim that the Asian country had agreed to create a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians who want to move to Kisarazu to live and work. A statement by Abiodun Oladunjoye, the Director of Information, State House, on August 22, 2025, had claimed that […]

Japan has countered the federal government’s claim that the Asian country had agreed to create a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians who want to move to Kisarazu to live and work.

A statement by Abiodun Oladunjoye, the Director of Information, State House, on August 22, 2025, had claimed that “the Japanese government will create a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians who want to move to Kisarazu to live and work” under a new partnership between Nigeria and Japan.”

“The government of Japan on Thursday named the city of Kisarazu as the hometown for Nigerians willing to live and work in the country as part of its strategic efforts to deepen cultural diplomacy, promote economic growth and enhance workforce productivity.

“Under this new partnership, announced on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference for African Development, the Japanese government will create a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians who want to move to Kisarazu to live and work.

“Artisans and other blue-collar workers from Nigeria who are ready to upskill will also benefit from the special dispensation visa to work in Japan.”

However, in a statement on the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website on Monday, the government said there were no plans to issue special visas to Nigerians.

It said: “Regarding the ‘JICA Africa Hometown’ announced by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at the TICAD 9, there have been reports and statements both domestically and internationally that contain information contrary to the facts.

“At the TICAD 9, JICA announced the launch of the ‘JICA Africa Hometown’, which aims to strengthen exchanges between African countries and Japanese local governments based on the experience gained through its previous projects.

“Under this program, four cities in Japan are designated as ‘hometowns’ for four African countries.

“Under this program, JICA plans to promote exchanges between the four Japanese cities and the four African countries through various activities, including the organisation of exchange events involving JICA overseas cooperation volunteers.

“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,” it said.

 

ADC hits FG

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Tuesday reacted to this controversy, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration of spreading fake news in pursuit of positive headlines.

Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the coalition, said the denial by the Japanese authorities shows how desperate the APC-led federal government is to seek positive publicity.

According to him, “This denial by the Japanese authorities shows that the Tinubu/APC government has become so desperate for positive headlines that they would not mind spreading fake news.

“The truth is, with this government, we don’t know what to believe anymore. This embarrassment just has to stop,” ADC said.

 

The UAE visa controversy

This is not the first time this has happened. In 2022, the United Arab Emirates UAE imposed a visa ban on Nigeria due to various diplomatic issues, a development that also led to Dubai’s Emirates Airline halting flights to Nigeria.

But in September 2023, President Tinubu and President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, had a bilateral meeting.

Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity at the time, said the two leaders finalised a historic agreement, which has resulted in the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travellers.

Furthermore, by this historic agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay, Ngelale had said.

He said, “As negotiated between the two Heads of State, this immediate restoration of flight activity, through these two airlines and between the two countries, does not involve any immediate payment by the Nigerian government.

“In recognition of President Tinubu’s economic development diplomacy drive and proposals today presented by President Tinubu to his counterpart, an agreed framework has been established, which will involve several billions of US dollars worth of new investments into the Nigerian economy across multiple sectors, including defence, agriculture and others, by the investment arms of the Government of the United Arab Emirates.”

However, not long after, the United Arab Emirates contradicted the claims by the Nigerian government that it had yet to lift a year-long visa ban on Nigerian travellers.

A statement by the UAE government later said both leaders had, during the meeting, explored opportunities for further bilateral collaboration, but did not mention lifting the visa ban or flights recommencing.

 

Ringing of NASDAQ Bell

In September 2023, President Bola Tinubu rang the Closing Bell on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (NASDAQ), during his trip to the UN General Assembly 78th session in New York.

It was a significant event given that Nasdaq is the second-most capitalised stock exchange in the world, next to the NY Stock Exchange.

The Presidency initially announced that President Tinubu was the first African leader to ring the NASDAQ closing bell.

However, the claim was later retracted, and the State House issued an updated statement removing the reference to President Tinubu being the first African leader to ring the NASDAQ closing bell.

Confusion over character commission appointment 

Earlier this month, President Tinubu made an appointment and later reversed it after some hours.

The Presidency, in a statement, announced the reappointment of Muheeba Dankaka as chairperson of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) at 6.30pm but hours later, she was replaced by a former House of Representatives member, Ayo Hulayat Omidiran.

In the first statement, signed by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the presidency announced that President Tinubu had approved a second five-year term for Ms. Dankaka, alongside the appointment of Mohammed Musa as the Commission’s secretary and a full list of state commissioners.

Kayode Oladele, from Ogun State, was retained as commissioner after having served as acting chair following the expiration of Ms. Dankaka’s first term.

But hours and late into the night that same day, the presidency issued another statement announcing Ms. Omidiran as the new FCC chair.

The reversal effectively ended Ms. Dankaka’s tenure.

 

Chairman and members of SEDC

In other related cases, Hon. Emeka Atuma, who was earlier announced as chairman of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) board, was replaced with Dr Emeka Nworgu.

All three executive directors initially nominated were also replaced, while two additional executive directors were named.

The President also removed the name of one of the board members, Donatus Eyinnah Nwankpa, and replaced the executive director for finance on the first list, Anthony Ugbo, with Stanley Ohajuruka.

 

Chairman and members of NWDC

The list of members of the inaugural Governing Board of the North West Development Commission (NWDC) was also modified after the release of the list of the initial appointments.

In the first list of nominees sent to the Senate late in September, last year, Ambassador Haruna Ginsau was nominated as chairman of the NWDC board with Senator Tijani Yahaya Kaura and Hon. Abdulkadir S. Usman as members.

They were, however, replaced with Alh Lawal Samai’la Abdullahi as the new chairman and Ja’afar Abubakar Sadeeq and Yahaya Aminu Abdulhadi, as members