US Revokes Soyinka’s Visa Nobel Laureate

Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka says the United States has revoked his visa, preventing him from entering the country.

Speaking at a media briefing held at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery in Lagos on Tuesday, Soyinka said he was shocked by the decision and unaware of any reason that could have led to it.

“I have no visa; I am banned, obviously, from the United States. If you want to see me, you know where to find me,” he said, explaining that he only recently learned of the development through an official notice from the US Consulate.

The letter, dated October 23, 2025, and issued by the Non-Immigrant Visa Section of the US Consulate in Lagos, stated that his B1/B2 visa had been revoked under US State Department regulations.

Soyinka said he had no criminal or immigration record that would justify such an action, adding that he was still trying to understand what triggered the revocation.

“I’ve started looking back—have I ever misbehaved toward the United States? Do I have a history? Have I gone against the law anywhere?” he asked.

The professor noted that when he first received the letter, he thought it was a scam or an AI-generated message, only to later confirm its authenticity.

This comes weeks after Soyinka told PM News that he declined a US Consulate invitation for a visa re-interview scheduled for September 11, saying he found the process unusual.

Soyinka’s B1/B2 visa allows temporary visits to the US for business or tourism. The reason for its revocation remains unknown, and the US Consulate has yet to comment on the development.