US revokes Wole Soyinka’s visa
Story by Mercy Adaje
Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has revealed that the United States government has revoked his visa, effectively barring him from entering the country.
Speaking at a media parley on Tuesday at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island, Soyinka expressed surprise over the development, saying he was unaware of any wrongdoing that could have prompted the action.
“It is necessary for me to hold this conference so that people in the United States who are expecting me for this event or that event 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,” he said.
According to Soyinka, the US Consulate in Lagos informed him of the revocation in a letter dated October 23, 2025. The letter, issued by the Non-Immigrant Visa (NIV) Section, stated that his visa had been revoked under U.S. Department of State regulations.
The reason for the revocation remains unclear. Soyinka said he was “still in the dark” about it, adding that he had no criminal record or history of misconduct.
“I’ve started looking back—have I ever misbehaved toward the United States of America? Do I have a history? Have I been convicted? Have I gone against the law anywhere?” he wondered.
In September, PM News reported that Soyinka had declined to attend a re-interview requested by the US Consulate for holders of B1/B2 visas—non-immigrant visas for business and tourism.
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Soyinka said he initially dismissed the revocation notice as a possible scam or AI-generated letter until he verified its authenticity, noting that his past interactions with US officials had always been cordial.
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