Photo: Rick Swart, New U.S. Consul General
The U.S. Mission has welcomed Rick Swart as the new Consul General in Lagos. He arrived on July 16 to assume his role as the senior U.S. government representative for the 17 southern states of Nigeria.
In his capacity, Consul General Swart will lead efforts to strengthen trade and investment, deepen people-to-people ties, and advance the broad U.S.-Nigeria bilateral agenda in the region.
“I am honored to serve in Nigeria and look forward to engaging with the people and culture while promoting our shared goals of safety, strength, and prosperity,” Swart said.
He succeeds JoEllen Gorg, who served as interim Consul General for the past seven months following the completion of Will Stevens’ tour in November 2024.
Swart expressed gratitude for Gorg’s leadership and looks forward to collaborating closely with Ambassador Mills and the U.S. Embassy team in Abuja to further U.S.-Nigeria relations.
A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Swart brings extensive diplomatic experience from assignments across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. His previous roles include Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Chad, Chargé d’Affaires in Chad, Congo, and Burundi, Deputy Consul General in Baghdad, and Humanitarian Assistance Officer for Africa at the U.S. Mission to the UN in Geneva.
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.
