The United States Embassy in Lagos has reiterated that the issuance of visas to foreign nationals constitutes a privilege and not an inherent right.
This position was articulated by the U.S. Consulate in Lagos in response to an inquiry by The PUNCH concerning the recent revocation of the non-immigrant B1/B2 visa issued to Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka.
In an official correspondence dated Thursday, the Consulate explained that, pursuant to U.S. law, visa records are deemed confidential and may not be discussed publicly. The U.S. Mission’s spokesperson stated:
“Under U.S. law, visa records are generally confidential. We will not discuss the details of this individual visa case.”
The Mission further clarified that the U.S. government retains absolute discretion to revoke visas at any time should circumstances so warrant, reiterating that the grant of a visa is a discretionary act and not a guaranteed entitlement.
“Visas are a privilege, not a right. Every country, including the United States, reserves the sovereign authority to determine who may enter its borders. Visas may be revoked at any time, at the discretion of the U.S. government, whenever circumstances warrant,” the Mission stated.
Professor Soyinka had earlier disclosed, during a press briefing held at Kongi’s Harvest, Freedom Park, Lagos, that his U.S. visa had been formally revoked by the Consulate General through a letter dated October 23, 2025. The literary icon, aged 91, remarked that the revocation effectively precludes his entry into the United States, adding that he was unaware of any conduct that could have precipitated such an action.
During the briefing titled “Unending Saga: Idi Amin in Whiteface,” Professor Soyinka informed journalists that he received a written notice indicating that his non-immigrant visa “has been revoked pursuant to the authority contained in the U.S. Department of State regulations 22 CFR 41.122 and is no longer valid for application for entry into the United States.” The notice also stated that “additional information became available after the visa below was issued.”
The Consulate subsequently requested that Professor Soyinka submit the physical visa for cancellation, a directive he described as “humorous.” The communication further advised that any future travel to the United States would necessitate a fresh visa application to re-establish eligibility.
The Nobel Laureate reflected on two minor historical incidents which, though trivial, he speculated might have been referenced in the decision — including an airport declaration issue in Chicago involving undeclared chili peppers, for which he paid a nominal fine, and a decades-old altercation with law enforcement officers in Atlanta arising from a racially charged encounter. He, however, expressed doubt that either incident could reasonably justify the current revocation.
Soyinka’s case has elicited wide public commentary, particularly regarding the broader implications of U.S. immigration policy toward African nationals.
Professor Soyinka, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986 and has held multiple academic appointments in the United States, remains one of the most distinguished literary figures of the 20th and 21st centuries.#newsafro_
