US Defends Decision to Revoke Wole Soyinka’s Visa

The United States government has justified its decision to revoke the visa of Nigerian Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, stating that visas are privileges that can be withdrawn at any time.The clarification came from the US Consulate in Lagos after inquiries about the incident.

The Consulate explained that while it could not disclose personal details regarding Soyinka’s case due to confidentiality rules, all countries have the right to determine who enters their borders, and visas can be cancelled whenever necessary.

Soyinka, aged 91, had revealed that he received a letter from the US Consulate on October 23, 2025, notifying him that his B1/B2 visa, issued in April 2024, had been revoked.

The decision means the Nobel Prize winner will no longer be able to travel to the United States unless he reapplies.The Consulate stated that the revocation was made under the US regulation 22 CFR 41.122 after new information emerged following the visa issuance.

Soyinka was asked to return the visa for cancellation but was told he could submit a fresh application in the future.The writer, who has taught and lived in several American universities, expressed uncertainty over the reason behind the action, insisting he has never been involved in any criminal activity in the US.

He recalled only two past minor incidents — one involving a fine for not declaring food items at a Chicago airport, and another encounter with police in Atlanta many years ago.

The development has drawn public attention both in Nigeria and abroad, with many linking it to recent changes in US immigration policies affecting African travellers. Soyinka, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986, remains one of Africa’s most respected literary figures.