Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka on Tuesday revealed that the United States of America has revoked his visa, preventing him from entering the country for now.
Soyinka made the disclosure during a media briefing at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island, stating that he was unaware of any wrongdoing that might have led to the revocation.
“It is necessary for me to hold this conference so that those in the United States expecting me for events 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 told journalists.
The reason for the visa revocation remains unclear. Soyinka said he was still in the dark about the decision. The US Consulate reportedly informed him of the revocation in a letter dated 23 October 2025.
“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as official notification by the United States Consulate General in Lagos that the nonimmigrant visa listed below has been revoked pursuant to the authority contained in U.S. Department of State regulations,” the letter from the NIV Section of the Consulate, shown to reporters by Soyinka, read.
Expressing confusion over the development, Soyinka said: “I’m still reviewing my past history. I have no criminal record, felony, or misdemeanour that would justify this revocation.
“I’ve started reflecting—have I ever misbehaved toward the United States? Do I have a history? Have I ever gone against the law anywhere?”
He further stated that, This is not a personal matter. Initially, I suspected the letter might be a scam, perhaps part of an advance-fee fraud targeting visa applicants.
“Only after verifying its authenticity did I consider it genuine. My relationship with US ambassadors, consuls general, and cultural attachés has always been courteous, making this development all the more puzzling,” he said.