Trump Administration Revokes Wole Soyinka’s U.S. Visa Amid Controversy

The United States government under President Donald Trump has revoked the visa of Nigerian Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka.

The scholar announced the development on Tuesday at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos.

Soyinka revealed that he was notified of the revocation through a letter from the U.S. Consulate and expressed shock, stating he was unaware of any wrongdoing that could have warranted such action. “I have no visa; I am banned, obviously, from the United States,” he said, adding that he had no criminal or misconduct record.

The move comes against the backdrop of Soyinka’s long and public history of criticism of Trump.

During the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Soyinka had vowed to destroy his American green card if Trump won — a promise he fulfilled after Trump’s victory.

However, the revocation has stirred mixed reactions in Nigeria. While some sympathize with the laureate, others argue that it reflects his declining moral standing and inconsistent political posture.

Critics accuse Soyinka of once speaking truth to power but now aligning himself, directly or indirectly, with what they describe as the oppressive and unresponsive government of President Bola Tinubu. They claim that Soyinka’s muted stance on current governance failures contrasts sharply with his fiery criticism of previous administrations.

Some commentators suggest that the U.S. decision serves as a symbolic warning, not only to Soyinka but also to Nigeria’s ruling elite that the country’s global standing has eroded under poor governance and democratic backsliding.

Despite the controversy, Soyinka has hinted that he may reapply for permanent U.S. residency, a move some view as an attempt to preserve his international connections and academic influence at a time when Nigeria’s socio-political environment continues to deteriorate.