Richard Mills has officially ended his tenure as United States ambassador to Nigeria following a widespread recall of US envoys from missions across the globe by President Donald Trump.
The US mission in Nigeria confirmed on Tuesday that Mills’ last day in office was Friday. He had been confirmed as ambassador in May 2024, a role typically held for three to four years.
The recall, part of a diplomatic reshuffle in December, affected over two dozen countries, with African nations among the most impacted. Mills’ departure comes amid tense US-Nigeria relations, marked by disagreements over visas and security matters, even as both countries worked on initiatives to strengthen cooperation.
State Department officials clarified that recalled ambassadors would retain their foreign service positions and could return to Washington for reassignment if they chose.
The US mission in Nigeria also announced that Keith Heffern, the current deputy chief of mission, will assume duties as charge d’affaires until further notice.
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