The usa authorities has revoked the visa of Nigeria’s Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, effectively barring him from coming into the nation.

Soyinka made this known on Tuesday at some stage in a media parley held at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island. He expressed shock on the improvement, announcing he used to be unaware of any wrongdoing that would possibly like led to the resolution.

“It is miles serious for me to care for this convention so that folk in the US who predict me for one tournament or one more stop no longer kill their time,” Soyinka mentioned.

“I manufacture no longer like any visa; I am banned, obviously, from the US. And in say so that you can appreciate me, you know the place to win me.”

In step with the Nobel Laureate, the U.S. Consulate Related outdated in Lagos formally notified him of the visa revocation in a letter dated October 23, 2025.

Half of the letter, which Soyinka shared with journalists, learn:

“This letter serves as educated notification by the US Consulate Related outdated in Lagos that the nonimmigrant visa listed under has been revoked pursuant to the authority contained in U.S. Division of Advise guidelines.”

The letter, issued by the Consulate’s Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) Fragment, did no longer specify any motive for the revocation.

Soyinka mentioned the resolution left him puzzled, noting that he had no felony ancient past or authorized field that would possibly well interpret such an action.

“I’m amassed having a appreciate into my past ancient past… I don’t like any felony file, no longer even a misdemeanour, to qualify for this revocation,” he mentioned.

“I’ve been asking myself—like I ever misbehaved in direction of the US of The usa? Non-public I been convicted or violated any laws anywhere?”

The motive for the revocation remains unclear, though it comes amid the U.S. authorities’s ongoing efforts to tighten immigration procedures and decrease the influx of foreign company.

In September, PM Recordsdata reported that Soyinka had declined an invitation from the U.S. Consulate to look for a visa re-interview scheduled for 11th of September, 2025. The invitation, sent to holders of B1/B2 nonimmigrant visas, requested revalidation interviews for industry and tourism travelers.

At the time, Soyinka mentioned he before every thing place idea the letter used to be false.

“I idea it used to be a scam—a form of attain-price fraud messages that goal other folk hunting for visas. I even wondered if it had been generated by AI,” he instructed PM Recordsdata in September.

Upon confirming the letter’s authenticity, Soyinka mentioned he mirrored on his longstanding cordial relationship with successive U.S. ambassadors, consuls normal, and cultural attachés.

“As you know, it has continuously been a courteous relationship,” he added.

Despite the setback, the 1986 Nobel Prize winner mentioned he would not rob into consideration the subject non-public nevertheless hopes to receive readability from U.S. authorities soon.