Richard Mills has officially concluded his tenure as the United States Ambassador to Nigeria following a sweeping diplomatic recall ordered by President Donald Trump that affected dozens of US missions worldwide.
In a statement posted on Tuesday, the United States Mission in Nigeria confirmed that Mills’ last day in office was Friday. Mills, who was confirmed by the US Senate in May 2024, served for less than a year, far shorter than the typical three to four-year term usually associated with ambassadorial postings.
His exit follows a major diplomatic shake-up in December, during which Washington recalled envoys from over two dozen countries, with Africa reportedly the most affected continent. The move marked one of the most extensive ambassadorial withdrawals in recent US diplomatic history.
Mills’ recall comes against the backdrop of strained US-Nigeria relations, fueled by lingering disagreements over visa policies and growing security concerns. The development occurred even as both countries were making renewed efforts to collaborate on initiatives aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
Officials at the US State Department clarified that the recalled ambassadors would not be dismissed from foreign service. Instead, they are expected to return to Washington and may be reassigned to other roles should they choose to continue in diplomatic service.
Meanwhile, the US Mission in Nigeria announced that Keith Heffern, the current Deputy Chief of Mission, will assume the role of Chargé d’Affaires and oversee diplomatic affairs in Nigeria until further notice.
