Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, on Tuesday announced that the United States of America has revoked his visa, making his entry into the country impossible for now.
Soyinka disclosed this during a media parley held at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island,…— oseni rufai (@ruffydfire) October 28, 2025
Wole Soyinka says the U.S. has revoked his visa without explanation, leaving the Nobel laureate baffled over the decision.
Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka on Tuesday revealed that the United States government has revoked his visa, effectively barring his entry into the country.
Speaking at a media parley held at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island, Soyinka said he was surprised by the development and unaware of any wrongdoing that could justify the decision.
“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.”
According to him, the U.S. Consulate in Lagos notified him in a letter dated October 23, 2025, that his nonimmigrant B1/B2 visa had been revoked under Department of State regulations.
Soyinka expressed confusion, saying, “I don’t have any past criminal record or even a felony or misdemeanour to qualify for the revocation.”
The U.S. government has yet to give a reason for the move.