Nobel Prize-winning author Professor Wole Soyinka has revealed that the United States government has revoked his visa, effectively barring him from entering the country.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island, the literary icon said he was informed of the decision through an official letter from the U.S. Consulate in Lagos dated October 23, but was given no reason for the revocation.
“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,” Soyinka told journalists.
He added that the conference was necessary “so that people in the United States who are expecting me for this event or that event do not waste their time.”
“I Thought It Was a Scam”
Soyinka said he initially dismissed the letter as a scam, thinking it might be a case of advance-fee fraud or an AI-generated hoax, given its unusual phrasing and timing.
“At first, I thought it was advance-fee fraud… I had never received that kind of letter from any embassy. I even thought maybe AI generated it,” he told PM News.
The playwright, who holds a B1/B2 visa for temporary business and tourism, said he declined a follow-up request from the consulate for a visa reassessment meeting, describing the correspondence as “suspicious.”
Soyinka maintained that he has no criminal record and could not identify any incident that might have warranted the U.S. decision.
“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,” he said.
Broader context: stricter U.S. visa rules
The development comes amid heightened U.S. visa scrutiny for Nigerian citizens. In July 2025, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria announced a policy restricting most non-immigrant visas to single entry and three-month validity, replacing the previous five-year, multiple-entry permits.
Reports have since emerged that several Nigerians have had their visas quietly revoked, often with only the explanation that “new information became available after the visa was issued.”
The Consulate’s letter to Soyinka read in part:
“This letter serves as official notification by the United States Consulate General in Lagos that the non-immigrant visa listed below has been revoked pursuant to the authority contained in the U.S. Department of State regulations.”
Awaiting clarification
Soyinka, who has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with the United States as a visiting scholar and frequent speaker, expressed surprise at the move but said he remains hopeful that the issue will soon be resolved.
“I have had cordial relations with the U.S. diplomatic community for decades. This development remains a puzzle to me,” he said.
The U.S. Consulate has yet to publicly comment on the revocation or provide specific reasons for the action.
