- Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has revealed that the United States has revoked his visa, saying he was not aware of any reason for the move.
- The U.S. Embassy cited a law that allows consular officials to revoke visas at any time.
- The move comes after new restrictions cut the validity of Nigerian visas from five years to three months. Soyinka, who had his US green card ripped up in 2016 due to Donald Trump’s policies, said he was now “banned” from entering the country.
Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has revealed that the United States has revoked his visa.
Soyinka, who spoke at a negotiation held at the Conge Harvest Gallery in Freedom Park, Lagos Island, said he was not aware of any wrongdoing that could have led to the decision.
“It is necessary for me to hold this conference so that those in the United States who are expecting me to attend this or that event do not waste their time. I do not have a visa; obviously, I am prohibited from entering the United States,” he said.
The revocation sparked speculation about possible changes to U.S. visa policy for Nigerians. The U.S. Embassy cited Section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows consular officials to revoke a visa at any time.
Recent developments also include the reduction of visa validity for Nigerians from five years to three months, with only single-entry visas now being issued.
Soyinka has been an outspoken critic of former US President Donald Trump, having previously torn up his US green card in 2016 in protest of Trump’s policies.
