What Wole Shoyinka Said After U.S. Revokes His Visa
Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has expressed surprise after the United States revoked his visa, making it impossible for him to travel to the country for now. Soyinka made the disclosure during a media briefing at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, located at Freedom Park in Lagos Island.
He explained that he needed to inform people publicly so that those expecting him in the US would not be disappointed.
Soyinka said he did not know the reason behind the sudden decision. He insisted that he had done nothing wrong to justify the revocation. He told journalists that he was shocked and had no record of crime or misconduct in the US or any other country. The development has raised questions among his supporters, especially because of his long and well-respected relationship with the United States.
According to Soyinka, the US Consulate in Lagos informed him of the visa cancellation in a letter dated October 23, 2025. The letter, which he shared with reporters, stated that his visa had been revoked under US Department of State regulations.
The revoked visa is a B1/B2 visa, which allows travel to the US for business or tourism. Soyinka said he found the situation confusing because he has always had a respectful relationship with American diplomats and had never been involved in any conflict with the US authorities. He added that he had even believed the letter was fake at first.
This comes months after PM News reported that Soyinka had refused to honour an invitation for a new visa interview requested by the US Consulate. At the time, he questioned the necessity of the re-interview, especially given his standing and long travel history. However, Soyinka insisted on Tuesday that the visa issue should not be seen as a personal fight against the United States.
Soyinka said he is now looking into the situation to understand what may have triggered the action. He questioned whether he may have unknowingly done anything that could be seen as a violation. But he maintained that he had never been convicted of any crime or engaged in behaviour that could lead to such a penalty.
In recent months, the US government has taken stronger measures aimed at reducing migration and tightening visa regulations. Some observers believe the revocation may be connected to broader policy changes rather than a personal matter involving Soyinka.
The Nobel Laureate concluded by saying that anyone who wants to see him should come to Nigeria for now. He said he remains calm and hopes clarity will come soon regarding why the visa was revoked.
