The U.S. Mission in Lagos has officially announced the appointment of Rick Swart as the new Consul General, succeeding JoEllen Gorg, who served in an acting capacity over the past seven months.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Gorg stepped in following the departure of former Consul General Will Stevens, who concluded his tour in November 2024.
Swart, a seasoned diplomat and career member of the U.S. Senior Foreign Service, now serves as the senior U.S. government representative to the 17 states of southern Nigeria.
He brings extensive international experience, having held diplomatic assignments across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Prior to his new role in Nigeria, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Chad.
The U.S. Consulate noted that Swart will oversee efforts to strengthen U.S.-Nigeria relations, including boosting trade and investment, fostering people-to-people ties, and advancing a broad range of bilateral priorities.
Speaking on his appointment, Swart expressed gratitude and enthusiasm: “I am honoured to serve in Nigeria. I’m excited about the opportunity to travel across the region, meet its people, experience its culture, and work toward our shared goals of making both our nations safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”
He also praised JoEllen Gorg for her leadership, acknowledging her contributions to reinforcing U.S.-Nigeria cooperation in the region: “I thank JoEllen for her remarkable leadership and outstanding work in strengthening our partnership with the Nigerian people.”
Swart emphasized his commitment to collaboration with U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, David Greene Mills, and the Embassy team in Abuja: “I look forward to working closely with Ambassador Mills and our colleagues to further our shared objectives.”
His previous diplomatic assignments include serving as Chargé d’Affaires a.i. in Chad, the Republic of Congo, and Burundi, as well as Deputy Consul General in Baghdad, Iraq.
He also held the position of Humanitarian Assistance Officer for Africa at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.
Before joining the U.S. State Department in 2002, Swart worked in the private sector on architectural and design projects across Asia and Africa.
