LAGOS, Nigeria (BN24) — Nigerian Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka announced Tuesday that the United States has revoked his entry visa, a move he described as unexpected and perplexing. The decision, which effectively bars the literary icon from entering the country, was communicated to him in an official letter from the U.S. Consulate in Lagos dated October 23, 2025.
Speaking at a press conference held at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, on Lagos Island, Soyinka told reporters he was unaware of any actions that might have led to the revocation. “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,” he said. “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.”
According to Soyinka, the notification from the Non-Immigrant Visa (NIV) Section of the U.S. Consulate General 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as official notification by the United States Consulate General in Lagos that the nonimmigrant visa listed below has been revoked pursuant to the authority contained in U.S. Department of State regulations.”
The 89-year-old playwright, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, said he remains in the dark about the reasons behind the decision. “I’m still looking into my past history… I don’t have any past criminal record or even a felony or misdemeanor to qualify for the revocation,” Soyinka said. “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?”
The revocation follows recent measures by the U.S. government to tighten immigration and visa policies. Soyinka, who has traveled frequently to the U.S. for lectures and academic events, said the development took him by surprise.
In September, Soyinka told PM News that he had declined an invitation from the U.S. Consulate in Nigeria to attend a visa re-interview scheduled for September 11, saying he found the request suspicious at the time. “At first, I thought it was fake,” Soyinka said, recounting that he initially suspected the letter might be part of an online scam or even generated by artificial intelligence. “By the time I came to terms with the fact that the letter was genuine, my mind went to my relationship with individual ambassadors, Consuls General, and Cultural Attachés. As you know, it has always been a courteous relationship.”
Soyinka’s B1/B2 visa — a non-immigrant visa for temporary travel to the United States for business or tourism — was reportedly revoked without prior notice. He emphasized that the situation was not personal but symbolized a broader issue in U.S. diplomatic engagement. “For me, this is not a personal issue,” he said. “I have no idea what prompted it, but I will continue to seek clarification through the proper channels.”
The U.S. Consulate in Lagos has not commented publicly on the revocation or provided any further explanation as of Tuesday evening.
