US govt revokes Wole Soyinka’s Visa

The United States government has revoked the visa of Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka.

Soyinka disclosed this at a media briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

Expressing surprise over the development, the renowned playwright said he was unaware of any reason or misconduct that could have led to the visa withdrawal.

Soyinka said: “It is necessary for me to hold this conference so that people in the United States who are expecting me for one event or another do not waste their time.

“I have no visa; I am banned, obviously, from the United States. And if you want to see me, you know where to find me.”

The Nobel Laureate revealed that he was officially notified by the US Consulate through a letter dated October 23, 2025, informing him of the visa revocation.

According to him, the letter, issued by the Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) Section of the Consulate, read in part: “This letter serves as official notification by the United States Consulate General in Lagos that the nonimmigrant visa listed below has been revoked pursuant to the authority contained in U.S. Department of State regulations.”

Soyinka noted that the correspondence did not specify the reason for the action, adding that he was still trying to understand the basis for the decision.

He added: “I’m still looking into my past history. I don’t have any criminal record, felony, or misdemeanour that could justify the revocation.

“I’ve been asking myself — have I ever misbehaved toward the United States? Have I been convicted or violated any law anywhere?”

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Soyinka, who holds a B1/B2 nonimmigrant visa for business and tourism, said he initially dismissed the letter as a scam.

Soyina stated: “I thought it was advance-fee fraud because I had never received such a letter from any embassy.

“At first, I even suspected that it might have been generated by AI. But after confirming it was genuine, I was shocked, especially given my cordial relationship with successive US ambassadors and consular officials.”

Reports had emerged that Soyinka declined an invitation from the US Consulate for a visa re-interview scheduled for September 11, 2025.

While the exact reason for the revocation remains unclear, Soyinka reaffirmed his respect for international laws and diplomatic protocols.

The Star