This Is New US Consul General, Who Just Arrived Lagos

The picture you are looking at is that of new United States, US Consul General, Rick Swart who just arrived Lagos.

The US mission in Nigeria announced Swart’s arrival on Wednesday, stating that the diplomat would be representing the US government across 17 states in southern Nigeria.

These were contained in a press statement on Friday, by the Public Diplomacy Section, US Consulate General Lagos.

“I am honoured to serve in Nigeria”, Swart, who is expected to oversee efforts aimed at deepening trade, strengthening ties with Nigerians, and advancing key U.S.-Nigeria priorities in the region, said of his new posting.

“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,” the new US Consul General is quoted as saying.

He succeeds JoEllen Gorg who had served in an interim capacity since November 2024, following the departure of Will Stevens.

Swart praised Gorg’s efforts, saying, “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.”

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A Peace Corps Volunteer in Mali before joining the State Department in 2002, the new consul general, had served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Chad.

He had equally served in Geneva, London, Manila, the Congo, Burundi, Iraq, and Dubai, among others.