Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka says the United States has revoked his visa, leaving him unable to travel to the country for now.
Speaking during a media briefing at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos, on Tuesday, Soyinka said he was surprised by the development, noting that he had committed no offence to warrant such 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.
The reason behind the visa revocation remains unclear. Soyinka said he was still trying to understand what led to the decision.
According to him, the US Consulate informed him of the move in a letter dated October 23, 2025. The letter, issued by the Non-Immigrant Visa Section of the Consulate, stated that his visa had been revoked under US Department of State regulations.
“I’m still looking into my past history… I don’t have any past criminal record or even a felony or misdemeanour to qualify for the revocation,” Soyinka said. “I’ve started asking myself—have I ever misbehaved toward the United States? Have I been convicted? Have I gone against the law anywhere?”
Soyinka’s visa, classified as B1/B2, is a non-immigrant visa meant for business or tourism travel to the United States.
In September, PM News reported that Soyinka declined an invitation from the US Consulate for a visa re-interview, scheduled for September 11, 2025. He told the outlet he had initially thought the invitation letter was fake, believing it to be an advance-fee fraud or a scam.
“So, 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,” he said.
The US government has recently tightened its immigration policies, a move seen as part of efforts to control migration. Soyinka, however, maintained that he has always had a respectful relationship with the US and expressed hope that the issue would soon be clarified.
