The United States Embassy in Lagos has finally addressed the controversy surrounding the revocation of Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka’s U.S. visa. The 91-year-old literary icon had earlier revealed during a media parley at Kongi’s Harvest, Freedom Park, that he no longer possessed a valid U.S. visa and, therefore, should not be expected in the country anytime soon.
Following widespread reactions to the revelation, the U.S. Consulate clarified its position through an official statement to Punch on Thursday. The embassy explained that visas issued to foreign nationals are “a privilege, not a right,” and that the U.S. government reserves the authority to revoke them at any time.
In an email signed by Julia McKay, Public Diplomacy Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos, the embassy emphasized that it could not discuss the specifics of Soyinka’s visa due to confidentiality laws. “Under U.S. law, visa records are generally confidential. We will not discuss the details of this individual visa case,” McKay stated.
She went on to note that every nation has the sovereign right to determine who enters its borders. “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,” McKay explained.
The development has sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians, many of whom expressed concern over the treatment of one of Africa’s most celebrated intellectuals. While the reasons for the revocation remain undisclosed, the episode highlights the complex and discretionary nature of international travel privileges — even for globally respected figures like Prof. Soyinka.
