The United States Mission has announced the arrival of its new Consul General, Rick Swart, who arrived in Lagos on July 16 to take charge of American diplomatic activities across 17 southern Nigerian states.
As Consul General in Lagos, Swart becomes the senior U.S. Government representative to Nigerians throughout the southern region, with responsibility for leading American government activities that strengthen trade and investment ties and expand people-to-people connections.
“I am honored to serve in Nigeria,” Consul General Swart said. “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 takes over from JoEllen Gorg, who led the Consulate General in an interim capacity for the past seven months following the departure of the immediate past Consul General, Will Stevens, who completed his tour of duty in November 2024.
The new Consul General praised Gorg’s leadership during the transition period.
He also expressed eagerness to work with the broader U.S. diplomatic team in Nigeria.
“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,” he added.
Swart brings extensive diplomatic experience to his new role. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, he has held diverse diplomatic positions across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.
His most recent posting was as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Chad. Before that, he served as Chargé d’Affaires in the Republics of Chad, Congo, and Burundi.
His other diplomatic assignments include serving as Deputy Consul General in Baghdad, Iraq, and Humanitarian Assistance Officer for Africa at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.
Swart has also completed overseas tours in London, Manila, and Dubai, as well as domestic postings in Washington, D.C., where he served as the focal point for several cross-cutting sub-Saharan Africa issues.
Before joining the State Department in 2002, Swart worked in the private sector on architectural and design projects in Asia and Africa. He also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mali, giving him additional grassroots experience in African development work.