The United States Mission in Nigeria has announced the arrival of Rick Swart as the new Consul General in Lagos.
Swart, who arrived on Wednesday, will serve as the U.S. government’s representative across 17 states in southern Nigeria.
The announcement was made in a statement released on Friday by the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos.
In his new role, Swart will lead efforts to enhance trade relations, strengthen engagement with Nigerians, and advance key U.S.-Nigeria strategic priorities in the region.
“I am honoured to serve in Nigeria. I am excited about the opportunity to travel across the region, meet the people, experience the culture, while advancing the shared goals of making our two countries safer, stronger, and more prosperous,” Swart was quoted as saying.
He succeeds JoEllen Gorg who had served in an interim capacity since November 2024, following the departure of Will Stevens.
Swart praised Gorg’s efforts, saying, “I thank JoEllen for her remarkable leadership and for the outstanding work she has done to promote our close partnership with the Nigerian people in the region.
“I look forward to working closely with Ambassador Mills and the team at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, to further advance the shared objectives between Nigeria and the United States.”
A career diplomat, Swart was previously Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Chad.
His past assignments have taken him to Congo, Burundi, Iraq, Geneva, London, Manila, and Dubai, among others.
He also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mali before joining the State Department in 2002.
