Amanze Chinonye
The United States government has revoked the non-immigrant visa of Nigeria’s Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, effectively barring him from entering the country a development he described as “baffling” and “unjustified.”
Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island, Soyinka said he was shocked to learn of the revocation and decided to address the public so that “people in the United States who are expecting me for this event or that event do not waste their time.”
“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,” the playwright told journalists.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to a letter from the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, dated October 23, 2025, Soyinka’s B1/B2 visa issued for temporary business and tourism was revoked “pursuant to the authority contained in U.S. Department of State regulations.” The correspondence, citing regulation 22 C.F.R. §41.122, did not specify the reason for the action.
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Soyinka, said he had no criminal or immigration violations that could justify the move and was “still looking into his past history” to understand it. “I don’t have any past criminal record or even a felony or misdemeanour to qualify for the revocation,” he said.
The laureate revealed that before the revocation, the U.S. Consulate had invited him for a visa reassessment on September 11, which he declined after suspecting the message might be fraudulent. “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 quipped.
The U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria have not publicly commented on the case. However, recent reports suggest that Washington has tightened travel policies affecting Nigerians.
In July 2025, the embassy reduced most non-immigrant visas from five-year multiple-entry permits to single-entry visas valid for three months, citing policy reviews. There have also been quiet revocations of Nigerian visas, reportedly due to “new information” obtained after issuance.
Soyinka, who maintains long-standing academic and cultural ties with the United States, said he has always enjoyed cordial relations with U.S. diplomats and expressed hope that “the situation would soon be clarified.”
The Nobel laureate, known globally for his activism and literary influence, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, becoming the first African to receive the honour. His visa revocation has raised questions about transparency in U.S. consular processes and the broader implications for Nigerian travelers.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
