Nobel laureate and globally acclaimed writer, Professor Wole Soyinka, has revealed that his visa to the United States has been revoked, effectively preventing him from entering the country for the foreseeable future.
Speaking during a press briefing held at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery in Freedom Park, Lagos, on Tuesday, the 1986 Nobel Prize winner expressed shock over the decision, saying he was yet to receive any clear explanation for the action.
“I had to make this public so that those expecting me at events in the United States won’t be left wondering,” Soyinka told journalists.
“I have no visa; apparently, I’m banned from entering the U.S. If anyone wants to see me, they’ll have to come here.”
According to Soyinka, the notification of revocation came through a formal letter dated October 23, 2025, from the U.S. Consulate in Lagos.
The letter, issued by the Non-Immigrant Visa (NIV) Section, stated that his visa had been revoked “under the authority of the U.S. Department of State regulations.”
While the letter did not specify the grounds for the revocation, Soyinka said he was completely unaware of any actions or circumstances that might have prompted the U.S. government’s decision.
“I’ve been going through my past to see if there’s any record or misconduct that could have triggered this,” he remarked.
“I’ve never been arrested, convicted, or even accused of anything that violates U.S. law or any international standard.”
The literary icon, who has spent decades traveling the world for lectures, academic engagements, and cultural events, said he found the situation both puzzling and concerning.
“This is not just about me,” Soyinka added. “It’s about what such actions mean for intellectual exchange and global dialogue. When scholars are restricted for unclear reasons, it sets a worrying precedent.”
Soyinka’s visa, classified as a B1/B2 type, allows temporary entry into the United States for business and tourism purposes.
However, reports indicate that he had earlier declined an invitation from the U.S. Consulate for a visa re-interview scheduled in September 2025, describing the exercise as unnecessary at the time.
The U.S. government has recently tightened visa policies, citing national security and immigration control as reasons for its more rigorous screening and revocation measures.
Although it remains unclear whether Soyinka’s case is connected to the broader immigration clampdown, his revelation has stirred conversations within Nigeria’s academic and diplomatic circles.
A Lagos-based international affairs analyst, Dr. Olufemi Adebanjo, reacting to the development, told Afripost that “it’s unusual for a global figure of Soyinka’s stature to face such treatment without prior notice or justification.
This could either be an administrative error or a reflection of new, stricter U.S. visa enforcement measures.”
As of press time, neither the U.S. Consulate in Lagos nor the U.S. Department of State had issued any public comment regarding the revocation.
Soyinka, however, appeared unfazed by the ordeal, saying he would continue his work in Nigeria and elsewhere. “My spirit isn’t tied to a visa stamp,” he quipped. “Freedom of thought doesn’t require a passport.”
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