Rick Swart, the new Consul General of the United States (US) Mission, has arrived. He arrived Lagos on the 16th of July, 2025.
As Consul General in Lagos, Swart is the senior U.S. Government representative to the Nigerian people throughout the 17 states in southern Nigeria,” the mission said in a statement. “He is responsible for leading and overseeing U.S. government activities that deepen trade and investment ties, expand people-to-people connections, and advance the full range of priorities in the U.S.-Nigeria bilateral relationship across the region.
“I am honored to serve in Nigeria. 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.
JoEllen Gorg, who oversaw the Consulate General in a temporary role for the previous seven months, will be replaced by Swart.
Will Stevens, the most recent Consul General, finished his term in November 2024. Consul General Rick Swart went on to say, “I thank JoEllen for her remarkable leadership and for the outstanding work she has done to promote our close partnership with the Nigerian people in the region.
“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.”
