US Revokes Wole Soyinka’s Visa, Nobel Laureate Shocked by Development

The United States government has revoked the visa of Nigerian Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, stopping him from entering the country.

Soyinka revealed the development during a media briefing held at his Kongi’s Harvest Gallery in Lagos on Tuesday. He said he was surprised by the action and had not received any explanation from US authorities on why his visa was withdrawn.

According to the letter issued by the Non-Immigrant Visa Section of the US Consulate in Lagos and dated October 23, 2025, Soyinka’s B1/B2 visa was revoked under the regulations of the US State Department. The B1/B2 visa allows foreigners temporary entry into the United States for tourism or business purposes.

The Nobel laureate said he became aware of the issue after receiving the official notice and initially thought it was a scam. However, after further checks, he confirmed the authenticity of the letter.

He expressed confusion over the reason behind the decision, noting that he had no record of misconduct, criminal activity, or immigration violation in the United States or elsewhere.

Reports indicate that earlier in September, Soyinka declined an invitation from the US Consulate to attend a visa re-interview scheduled for September 11, describing the request as unusual.

As of the time of this report, the US Consulate has not provided any public statement or clarification regarding the reason for the visa withdrawal.

The development has drawn attention both locally and internationally, as Soyinka remains one of Africa’s most respected literary figures and the first black man to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.