Woke Soyinka Speaks Out After UK Revokes His Visa, Bans Him From Entering Country
By: Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has cried out that the United States government has revoked his visa, effectively barring him from entering the country.
OTN News further reports that the 89-year-old literary icon, disclosed this during a press briefing at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, located inside Freedom Park, Lagos Island, on Tuesday.
Soyinka, while addressing journalists, stressed that he decided to speak publicly to clarify the situation and prevent confusion among those expecting him in the U.S.
According to him, “it is necessary for me to hold this conference so that people in the United States expecting me do not waste their time."
“I have no visa; I am banned from the United States. And if you want to see me, you know where to find me.” he said.
Explaining how it happened, he said that he received an official letter from the Non-Immigrant Visa (NIV) Section of the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, dated October 23, 2025, notifying him that his B1/B2 visa had been revoked.
Soyinka stressed that the notice, issued under the authority of U.S. Department of State regulations, did not provide any explanation for the decision, and this left him baffled.
The globally acclaimed playwright and political activist said he had no knowledge of any conduct or record that could have prompted such action from U.S. authorities.
“I’m still reviewing my past. I have no criminal record, felony, or misdemeanor that would justify this action. I am trying to understand if I have ever misbehaved toward the United States or violated any laws anywhere," he said.
Soyinka, however, disclosed that he had previously declined an invitation from the U.S. Consulate for a visa re-interview scheduled for September 11, 2025, since he already possessed a valid B1/B2 visa, which allows for temporary visits for business or tourism purposes.
He noted that, he dismissed the letter as a scam or possibly an AI-generated hoax because he had never received such a communication before.
However, he added that, by the time he realized the letter was genuine, he reflected on his relationships with the U.S. officials and found that they had always been courteous.
OTN News observes that the exact reason for the visa cancellation remains unclear, and U.S. authorities have yet to issue a public statement regarding the matter.
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