New U.S. Consul General Rick Swart Arrives Lagos

The U.S. Mission in Nigeria now has a new senior diplomat, Rick Swart, who arrived in Lagos on July 16, 2025, to serve as the Consul General for the southern region of the country.

He replaces JoEllen Gorg, who led the Consulate in an acting capacity for the past seven months after Will Stevens completed his tour in November 2024.

As Consul General, Mr. Swart will represent the U.S. government across the 17 states of southern Nigeria, including Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Edo, Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Anambra, Imo, Enugu, and Ebonyi.

His primary tasks will be to strengthen trade and investment links, deepen cultural and educational exchanges, and advance shared U.S.–Nigeria goals in areas such as security, health, democracy, and climate change.

“I am honoured to serve in Nigeria,” Swart said at a reception welcoming him to Lagos. “I look forward to travelling across the region, meeting the people, experiencing the culture, and working to make our two countries safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”

Rick Swart is a career member of the U.S. Senior Foreign Service. Until now, he has served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Chad and as Chargé d’Affaires in Chad, the Republic of Congo, and Burundi.

He was also Deputy Consul General in Baghdad, Iraq, and served as the Humanitarian Assistance Officer for Africa at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.

His overseas postings include stints in London, Manila, and Dubai, while domestically he worked in Washington, D.C., on issues affecting sub‑Saharan Africa.

Before joining the State Department in 2002, Swart worked on architectural and design projects across Asia and Africa and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali.

In his new role, Consul General Swart will collaborate closely with U.S. Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard in Abuja and with Nigerian federal and state leaders to support programs that benefit both nations.

His arrival marks a fresh chapter in U.S.–Nigeria relations at a time when both countries seek to boost economic growth, support democratic institutions, and tackle regional challenges together.