“Tinubu Gov’t Desperate for Positive Headlines” — ADC on Japan Visa Denial

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of misleading Nigerians with claims about a special visa deal with Japan.

This comes after Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed reports that it was creating a special visa category for Nigerians.

“There are no plans to take measures to promote the acceptance of immigrants or issue special visas for residents of African countries,” the ministry said on Monday, stressing that the reports were “not true.”

The rebuttal contradicted an August 22 statement from the State House, in which Abiodun Oladunjoye, director of information, claimed Japan would introduce “a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians” to live and work in Kisarazu. The release also suggested Nigerian artisans and blue-collar workers looking to upskill would benefit.

ADC publicity secretary and former sports minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the Japanese government’s denial as a major embarrassment for the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC).

“At #TICAD9, the APC Federal Government claimed that the Japanese authorities had agreed to issue ‘special visa categories’ to Nigerians,” Abdullahi posted on X.

“This denial shows that the Tinubu/APC government has become so desperate for positive headlines that they don’t mind spreading fake news. The truth is, with this government, we don’t know what to believe anymore. This embarrassment has to stop.”