The United States (U.S.) Embassy has informed Nigerian Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, of his being banned from entering the country.
Soyinka’s now revoked visa was classified as B1/B2 —a temporary, non-immigrant visa for travel to the United States for business (B-1) or tourism (B-2).
Expressing confusion at the development, Soyinka made the disclosure of his ban at a media parley held at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos.
The Nobel Laureate said: “I’m still looking into my past history. I don’t have any past criminal record or even a felony or misdemeanour to qualify for the revocation.
“I’ve started looking back. Have I ever misbehaved toward the United States of America? Do I have a history? Have I been convicted? Have I gone against the law anywhere?”
The nonagenarian activist, novelist and playwright said: “It is necessary for me to hold this conference 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.”
He disclosed that the U.S. Government revoked his visa, making his entry into the country impossible for now even without stating any official reason for the ban.
According to him, the U.S. Consulate informed him of the revocation in a letter of October 23, 2025.
The letter read: “This letter serves as official notification by the United States Consulate General in Lagos that the nonimmigrant visa listed below has been revoked pursuant to the authority contained in the U.S. Department of State regulations.”
It was issued by the NIV Section of the Consulate.
