Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) don cancel one exchange programme wit African kontris, ova wetin dem cite as "misunderstandings and confusion" ova di programme.

Jica on Thursday, 25 September, tok say dem go scrap di "Jica Africa Hometown" initiative, wey dem design to foster cultural and social exchanges between four African kontris and Japan, afta tori begin spread say e go open di door to migrants.

Jica for statement on dia website wey dem take announce di withdrawal, tok say dem believe say na di term "hometown plus di fact say dem go designate Japanese local govments as hometowns lead to di misunderstanding and confusion within Japan".

Wetin be Jica Africa Hometown Initiative

Na during di 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) for August, JICA tok say dem bin announce di "JICA Africa Hometown" initiative.

Di aim of di initiative na to designate four municipalities for Japan as "JICA Africa Hometown" for four African kontris respectively, wit di goal of promoting exchanges between dem through various exchange programs.

Originally, under dis initiative, dem reason say dem go coordinate and implement exchange programs among di Japanese local govments, relevant African kontris, and JICA. Di agency add say dem go give more details later.

Di Nigeria Ministry of Information and National Orientation bin announce di informate on dia X handle on Friday 22 August. According to di statement wey bin cause confusion, dem say dis na efforts to deepen cultural diplomacy, promote economic growth and enhance workforce productivity

Dem bin say di Japanese govment go create special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians wey wan go Kisarazu to live and work.

However, days later, di Japanese govment bin clear am say while di purpose of JICA Africa Hometown initiative na to promote cultural and developmental exchanges between selected African kontris and four Japanese cities, e no involve immigration benefits or special visas.

Di Japanese cities plus dia respective partner African nations na: Kisarazu for Chiba paired wit Nigeria; Nagai for Yamagata dey paired wit Tanzania; Sanjo for Niigata dey paired wit Ghana; and Imabari for Ehime dey paired wit Mozambique.

Why Japan scrap am?

Jica say di announcement don cause serious confusion for di kontri and e don place too much burden on di four municipalities.

E spark false claims for social media say African migrants go flood di participating cities wey include Kisarazu, Sanjo, Imabari, and Nagai. But di agency don clear am say di initiative no get plans to promote immigration.

"JICA take dis situation seriously. Afta consulting wit all parties involved, JICA don decide to withdraw di "JICA Africa Hometown" initiative," di agency tok for di statement.

Di agency say dem go continue to support efforts to promote international exchanges despite di withdrawal of di initiative.