The United States Embassy in Lagos has said that visas granted to foreign nationals by the US are a privilege, not a right. The embassy said this in response to an inquiry from The Punch regarding a recent disclosure by Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka that the US revoked his visa.
The Consulate declined to discuss the particular case of the professor of Literature for confidentiality reasons.
The Public Diplomacy Officer, US Department of State, US Consulate General, Lagos, Julia McKay, emphasised that under U.S. law, visa records are generally confidential.
As a result of this, she declined to discuss the details of Soyinka’s visa case. She, however, added that visas could be revoked at any time at the discretion of the US government.
The official explained that every country has the right to determine who enters its borders and that this also includes the US. The official said visas could be revoked at any time, at the discretion of the U.S. government, if there was a need for it.
The Nobel Laureate had, on Tuesday in Lagos, disclosed that his B1/B2 visa had been revoked by the US Embassy.
Addressing journalists at Kongi’s Harvest, Freedom Park, the renowned academic said he should not be expected at any event in the US by anyone because he had no visa.
Speaking further at the media parley titled “Unending Saga: Idi Amin in Whiteface,” Soyinka disclosed that the letter of visa revocation was dated October 23, 2025.
The celebrated author said he had no idea why his visa was revoked. He, however, said that he could only recall two minor incidents in the distant past.
Soyinka said he did not think they were the reasons his visa was revoked, but he wanted to put it in the public domain in case they were disclosed later by the US.
He said he pleaded guilty at the Chicago airport one day many years ago when he landed there for his first major production in the United States.
“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 chillies in my pockets just to keep me going when I got back to Chicago. I forgot to declare those chillies.
He said it is possible that the US might announce that he was convicted of carrying some small chillies. The Nobel Laureate said they told hil the airport that they would charge him to court or he could plead guilty and pay a fine.
He said he opted to plead guilty and pay a fine of about $25 or so.
The renowned author admitted he was wrong.
The second incident he recalled was in connection with the American Society of African Culture’s international conference in the early 70s,
Soyinka recalled that the event took place in the American Hotel, Atlanta.
He recalled having a confrontation with a receptionist over racist conduct, which led to the police being called.
He said the policeman arrived nd was throwing his weight around.
The professor joked that he could be convicted for disobeying orders from law officers of the US.
He said the incident was at least over 30 years ago.
The revoked visa was issued on April 2, 2024, in Lagos.
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