Wole Soyinka Reacts As U.S Revokes His Visa, Tells Him To Reapply

The United States government has revoked the non-immigrant visa of Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka.

According to a letter dated October 23 and signed by the US Consulate-General in Lagos, Wole Soyinka was asked to bring his passport to the consulate for the visa’s physical cancellation.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, Soyinka read excerpts from the letter, which stated that his visa had been revoked and was no longer valid for travel to the United States.

“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as official notification by the United States Consulate General in Lagos that the nonimmigrant visa listed below has been revoked pursuant to the authority contained in U.S. Department of State regulations 22 CFR 41.122 and is no longer valid for application for entry into the United States,” the letter reads.

The letter also stated that “additional information became available after the visa was issued,” prompting the US government to request its return for cancellation.

Soyinka said he was unsure what specific reason led to the revocation, but noted that he had applied for the visa after receiving a notice from the US Internal Revenue Service regarding a tax audit.

He explained that his planned trip was meant to resolve the issue and prevent any public misunderstanding about his tax status.

The renowned playwright recalled how he had once given up his US green card when Donald Trump became president, and suggested that his previous criticism of Trump might have influenced the decision.

“It is necessary for me to give this press conference so that people in the United States who are expecting me for their event, not to waste their time. I have no desire,” he said.

“I have written a lot of plays about Idi Amin. Maybe it is about time I also write about Donald Trump. Literary compliment. Maybe he would reconsider and restore my visa.

“I want to reassure the US Consulate that I’m very contend with the revocation of my visa. Individual citizens are free to interact with me.”

In September, Soyinka had earlier stated that he would not attend a scheduled visa interview at the US Consulate in Lagos on September 11, 2025.

KanyiDaily recalls that Wole Soyinka recently revealed that he was abducted and robbed in Bucharest, Romania, while attending the Sibiu International Theatre Festival as a guest of honour.