Japan Denies Claims of Special Visas for Skilled Nigerians

The Japanese government has issued a statement denying claims made by the Tinubu administration, saying it has created a new visa category allowing skilled Nigerians to relocate to Japan.

Clarifying the statement made by Abiodun Oladunjoye, the Director of Information at the State House, Nigeria,  the Mayor of Kisarazu, Yoshikuni Watanabe, emphasised that while the city has been designated as a hometown for Nigerians, it has not been given directives to “accept immigrants or relax the requirements for issuing special work visas in Nigeria.” The Mayor also stated that the designation of the city emanates from its role as a host town for Nigeria during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  He further noted that the city has been selected for the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) Grassroots Partnership Program and will work towards the development of young people’s human resources based on “discipline” through baseball and softball in Nigeria, but this would not be a gateway pass for immigration or immigrants. The Mayor urged the JICA to disseminate accurate information to avoid further confusion. 

This is not the first time the administration has faced backlash for its false statements on foreign affairs. In 2024, following the visa restrictions imposed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Nigerian travellers, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, claimed that the restrictions had been lifted. However, as soon as Nigerians began to jubilate over the statement, he released another report claiming that the country had yet to lift the restrictions.  

In 2024, it was also reported that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had stated inaccurate Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) figures in his October 1 speech. The President claimed that his administration’s reforms had led to the attraction of $30 billion of FDI in his first year. Contrary to his report, the National Bureau of Statistics had recorded that the country’s FDI experienced a significant drop and was at $29.83 million in the second quarter of 2024. The $30 billion FDI was also a mere commitment, which may not materialise into actual investments. 

Another example to consider is the President’s recent trip to Brazil to initiate direct flights between the two countries. The President claimed that his economic reforms have totally eradicated corruption and yielded positive results. However, the country’s increasing debt and the administration’s removal of fuel subsidy have impoverished Nigerians who rely on it for their day-to-day activities. Also, Nigeria was recently ranked 116th in the 2025 Chandler Good Governance Index (CGGI).

The controversy has once again highlighted concerns about the accuracy of the administration’s public communication and the importance of circulating reliable information on Nigeria’s foreign affairs.