The United States Mission in Nigeria has welcomed Rick Swart as the new Consul General in Lagos. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Swart assumed his role on Wednesday and will represent U.S. interests across 17 states in southern Nigeria.
In a statement released on Friday by the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Consulate, Swart expressed his excitement about serving in Nigeria. “I am honoured to serve in Nigeria. I look forward to travelling across the region, meeting the people, experiencing the culture, and advancing our shared goals of making both countries safer, stronger, and more prosperous,” he said.
As Consul General, Swart will lead U.S. government efforts to deepen trade and investment ties, expand people-to-people connections, and strengthen the broader U.S.-Nigeria relationship in the region.
Swart succeeds JoEllen Gorg, who led the Consulate in an interim capacity for seven months following the departure of Will Stevens in November 2024. He praised Gorg’s leadership and affirmed his commitment to building on the existing partnership with Nigerians.
Swart brings extensive diplomatic experience to the role, having served in Chad, Congo, Burundi, Iraq, Geneva, London, Manila, and Dubai. He most recently served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Chad and has held key roles focused on Africa both overseas and in Washington, D.C.
Before joining the State Department in 2002, Swart worked in architectural design in Asia and Africa and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mali.
Source
