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 represent the U.S. government across 17 southern Nigerian states, overseeing efforts to deepen trade, strengthen bilateral ties, and advance key U.S.-Nigeria priorities.
“I am honoured to serve in Nigeria,” Swart said in a statement released Friday by the U.S. Consulate’s Public Diplomacy Section. “I look forward to meeting the people, experiencing the culture, and working toward shared goals that make our two countries safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”
He succeeds JoEllen Gorg, who had served in an acting capacity since November 2024 following the departure of Will Stevens.
Swart praised Gorg’s leadership and pledged to continue building on U.S.-Nigeria relations in close coordination with Ambassador David Greene and the U.S. Embassy in Abuja.
A career diplomat, Swart previously served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Chad. His foreign service has included postings in Iraq, Geneva, London, Manila, Dubai, Congo, and Burundi. He also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali before joining the U.S. State Department in 2002.
