Nigerian Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka says the United States government has revoked his non-immigrant visa, just weeks after it was issued, following what U.S. officials described as “newly received information.”
The 91-year-old playwright and political activist made the revelation in a statement released through his media office on Monday, October 27. According to him, the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos contacted him by phone, requesting that he return his passport for “necessary administrative action.”
> “I was told that additional information had come to light after the visa was granted and that the Consulate was obliged to revoke it,”
Soyinka said.
He added that he complied with the request and surrendered his passport to the Consulate. Within days, he received the passport back with the visa formally cancelled.
Soyinka did not specify what the “additional information” was, and the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria has not issued an official statement on the incident.
✈️ Background
Soyinka, the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature (1986), has long maintained academic and personal ties with the United States. He has taught at several American universities — including Harvard, Emory, and Loyola Marymount — and regularly spends part of the year there for lectures and cultural programs.
In 2016, however, the laureate announced that he had destroyed his U.S. green card after Donald Trump was elected president, saying he could no longer justify permanent residency in the U.S. under that administration.
At the time, he said:
> “The moment they announce his victory, I will tear my green card myself and start packing up.”
Even so, Soyinka has continued to travel frequently to the U.S. for conferences, academic events, and family visits.
⚖️ Public Reaction
News of the visa revocation has drawn mixed reactions online.
Some Nigerians expressed shock and disappointment, describing it as a sign of disrespect to one of Africa’s most celebrated intellectuals.
Others have speculated that the decision could relate to heightened U.S. visa security procedures or potential administrative errors.
A few commentators noted that Soyinka has been openly critical of U.S. and Nigerian governments, and suggested the revocation might have a political dimension, though no official explanation has been given.
True to his reputation for wit and calm, Soyinka said he was “unbothered” by the incident and that he had no plans to appeal the decision.
> “I am too old to stand in visa queues,” he remarked.
“If I am needed to speak or teach, the organizers will find a way.”
He added that he remains committed to his literary work and advocacy within Nigeria and the African continent
Who: Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate
What: U.S. revokes his visa
When: Announced October 27–28 2025
Where: Lagos, Nigeria / U.S. Consulate
Why: “Additional information” (unspecified) discovered after visa approval
Outcome: Visa cancelled; Soyinka says he won’t contest it
Reuters – “Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka says US revokes his visa” (Oct 28 2025)
The Cable Nigeria – “US revokes Soyinka’s visa over additional information” (Oct 28 2025)
The ICIR Nigeria – contextual reporting on Soyinka’s U.S. ties
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