The United States Embassy in Lagos has indicated that visas provided to foreign nationals are a privilege rather than a right.
The US Consulate in Lagos sent this statement on Thursday in response to The PUNCH’s inquiries over the revocation of Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka’s visa.
In an email answer to our correspondent on Thursday, the Consulate stated that it was unable to reveal the specific visa facts due to confidentiality concerns.
“Under U.S. law, visa records are generally confidential. We will not discuss the details of this individual visa case,” the Public Diplomacy Officer, US Department of State, US Consulate General, Lagos, Julia McKay, said.
McKay also stated that visas can be revoked at any time at the discretion of the US government, emphasizing that they are a privilege.
“Visas are a privilege, not a right. Every country, including the United States, can determine who enters its borders. Visas may be revoked at any time, at the discretion of the U.S. government, whenever circumstances warrant,” she said.
During a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, Soyinka said that the US Embassy had revoked his B1/B2 visa.
The 91-year-old world-renowned writer told journalists at Kongi’s Harvest at Freedom Park that no one should expect him to visit the United States because he currently does not have a visa.
Addressing the media at the “Unending Saga: Idi Amin in Whiteface” event, Soyinka stated that the notification of revocation was given to him by the US Consulate General in Lagos by letter dated October 23, 2025.
“It is necessary for me to hold this press 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,” the author, playwright, and poet told journalists at the upper chamber of the art gallery.
Soyinka, a vocal critic of US President Donald Trump, insisted that he did not know why his visa was revoked.
While considering the revocation of his visa, the acclaimed writer stated that he could not recollect any act he had done that may have justified the decision to revoke his visa.
“I’ve started looking back—have I ever misbehaved towards the United States of America? Do I have a history? Have I been convicted? Have I gone against the law anywhere?” he wondered.
He did, however, recollect two minor events from years before and wondered if they were related to the current situation.
Soyinka said, “And I remembered finally two instances, which I want to make public now in case they are brought up later on.
“I remember pleading guilty at the airport one day. I was landing in Chicago. It was my first major production in the United States. We were in rehearsals at the time. And the night before, I had to dash to London and then return for rehearsals.
“I had gone to an Indian restaurant in London, and as usual, when I go to cold wintry countries, I always carry peppers with me. At that restaurant, when I was leaving, I put a few green chilies in my pockets just to keep me going when I got back to Chicago. I forgot to declare those chilies.
“So, I’m warning you now that you may learn that I was convicted for carrying some small chilies. At the airport, they wanted to charge me to court, but they said I could plead guilty and pay a fine. I think I remember paying about $25 or so. So, that’s one possible crime that could have been dug up. I had forgotten all about it, quite frankly; that’s my fault. That’s one.”
He added, “Two, the American Society of African Culture had an international conference some years ago, just in the early 70s; I’m not good with dates. It took place in the American Hotel, Atlanta.
“And I had a confrontation with the police (over) some racist conduct by the receptionist, which led to the police being called. And this policeman came and was trying to throw his weight around. So, I could be convicted, if you like, for, shall we say, disobeying orders from law officers of the US. This was at least 30 years ago.”
“So, ladies and gentlemen, these are the only two crimes I can consider myself guilty of in all the decades I’ve been going to the United States.”
Soyinka stated that he did not believe the two incidents were the grounds for the termination of his visa.
According to the letter addressed to him, the US Consulate stated that the Nobel laureate’s non-immigrant visa “has been revoked pursuant to the authority contained in the U.S. Department of State regulations 22 CFR 41.122 and is no longer valid for application for entry into the United States. Additional information became available after the visa below was issued.
The Consulate also demanded that Soyinka submit his visa to the Lagos Embassy “for physical cancellation,” which the Nobel laureate found amusing, asking if anyone in the crowd would volunteer to deliver it on his behalf.
“If you have plans to travel to the United States, you must apply again to re-establish your qualifications for a new non-immigrant visa,” the letter, issued by the NIV Section of the Consulate, added.
The document states that Soyinka’s visa was issued on April 2, 2024, in Lagos.
Soyinka, well recognized for his work as a dramatist, received the Nobel Prize in literature in 1986. According to the Nobel Prize, he had spent many years living abroad, particularly in the United States, where he held professorships at many universities.
Soyinka’s visa denial has reignited debate regarding recent actions taken by the United States to reduce migrant influx into the country, particularly from Africa.
