The United States (US) has revoked the visa of Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, leaving the playwright in disbelief.
By the global superpower’s action, Soyinka cannot enter the US as he has been barred.
Speaking today at a media briefing held at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island, Soyinka expressed surprise and confusion over the decision.
He said he is unaware of any wrongdoing that could have led to the revocation.
According to him, the US Consulate in Lagos officially informed him of the revocation in a letter dated 23 October, 2025.
The Trump administration has embarked on immigration actions that seek to remove from US soil or bar from entering the country any persons it is not comfortable with for whatever reason. It is part of President Trump’s America First policy.
It is unclear if such is the reason behind Soyinka’s visa revocation even as the writer is not known to be a criminal or poses criminal or terrorist threat.
The revocation letter, issued by the Non-Immigrant Visa (NIV) Section, stated that Soyinka’s B1/B2 visa—used for business and tourism—was revoked under U.S. Department of State regulations.
Reading the letter aloud, Soyinka said: “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.”
Giving details of how he initially received the letter’s contents, Soyinka echoed his disbelief, admitting he thought the letter was a scam or AI-generated fraud –until its authenticity was confirmed.
“I even thought scammers had picked my name randomly, knowing there was a list of invitees,” he said.
Despite verifying the letter, Soyinka said he remains puzzled and has done a thorough introspection as he has no criminal record or history of misconduct that could justify the revocation.
He wondered aloud: “I’ve started looking back—have I ever misbehaved toward the United States? Do I have a history? Have I been convicted? Have I gone against the law anywhere?”
Soyinka recalled that in September 2025, he declined an invitation from the US Consulate for a visa re-interview, describing the request as unusual and unnecessary.
His refusal and the subsequent revocation have left him questioning the motives behind the decision.
While the specific reason for the revocation remained unclear, Soyinka emphasized that the matter is not personal and reiterated his long-standing courteous relationships with US diplomats.
He described the revocation as strange, particularly given his history of global advocacy for justice and human rights.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Soyinka.
