The Embassy in Lagos was established October 1, 1960, with Ambassador Palmer in charge pending presentation of his letter of credence.
Nigeria–United States relations are bilateral relations between the Federal Republic of Nigeriaand the United States of America. Nigeria and the United States have long been close allies.
The United States is Nigeria’s greatest trading partner and is undeniably its most important diplomatic partner.
The following is a list of United States Ambassadors to Nigeria.
| Ambassadors | Appointment | End of term | Notes |
| Joseph Palmer II- | September 23, 1960 | Reaccredited when Nigeria became a republic; presented new credentials December 12, 1963; Left post January 16, 1964 | Career FSO .The Embassy in Lagos was established October 1, 1960, with Ambassador Palmer in charge pending presentation of his letter of credence. |
| Elbert G. Mathews – | March 10, 1964 | July 26, 1969 | Career FSO |
| William C. Trueheart – | September 19, 1969 | September 1, 1971 | Career FSO |
| John Reinhardt | September 30, 1971 | February 23, 1975 | |
| Donald B. Easum | March 26, 1975 | October 15, 1979 | Career FSO |
| Stephen Low | September 20, 1979 | July 4, 1981 | Career FSO |
| Thomas R. Pickering | October 26, 1981 | July 9, 1983 | Career FSO |
| Thomas W. M. Smith | February 10, 1984 | May 5, 1986 | Career FSO |
| Princeton Nathan Lyman | September 12, 1986 | July 24, 1989 | Career FSO |
| Lannon Walker | October 10, 1989 | July 10, 1992 | Career FSO |
| William Lacy Swing | June 15, 1992 | September 22, 1993 | Career FSO |
| Walter C. Carrington | August 10, 1993 | October 7, 1997 | |
| William H. Twaddell | November 10, 1997 | August 3, 2000 | Career FSO |
| Howard Franklin Jeter | December 28, 2000 | July 30, 2003 | Career FSO |
| Donald K. Steinberg | Career FSO | ||
| John Campbell | May 12, 2004 | July 19, 2007 | Career FSO |
| Robin Renee Sanders | 2008 | 2010 | Career FSO |
| Terence P. McCulley | September 28, 2010 | Career FSO | |
| James F. Entwistle | May 23, 2013 | Incumbent | Career FSO |
Notes:
- The U.S. Embassy was transferred from Lagos to Abuja September 15, 2000.
- S. diplomatic terms
- Career FSO;
After 1915, The United States Department of State began classifying ambassadors as career Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) for those who have served in the Foreign Service for a specified amount of time.
- Political appointee;
A person who is not a career foreign service officer, but is appointed by the president.
- Appointed;
The date that the ambassador took the oath of office; also known as “commissioning”. It follows confirmation of a presidential appointment by the Senate, or a Congressional-recess appointment by the president. In the case of a recess appointment, the ambassador requires subsequent confirmation by the Senate.
- Presented credentials;
The date that the ambassador presented his letter of credence to the head of state or appropriate authority of the receiving nation. At this time the ambassador officially becomes the representative of his country. This would normally occur a short time after the ambassador’s arrival on station. The host nation may reject the ambassador by not receiving the ambassador’s letter, but this occurs only rarely.
- Terminated mission;
Usually the date that the ambassador left the country. In some cases, a letter of recall is presented, ending the ambassador’s commission, either as a means of diplomatic protest or because the diplomat is being reassigned elsewhere and replaced by another envoy.
- Chargé d’affaires;
The person in charge of the business of the embassy when there is no ambassador commissioned to the host country. See chargé d’affaires.
- Ad interim;
Latin phrase meaning “for the time being”, “in the meantime”. See ad interim.
Source: US Embassy / Wikiepedia
