UK Government Appoints New High Commissioner To Nigeria

Peter Vowles has been appointed as the new British High Commissioner to Nigeria.

The UK government announced Vowles’ appointment in a statement on Monday 15 June.

Vowles succeeds Richard Montgomery who was the UK’s top representative in Nigeria since 2023.

Before his appointment, Vowles was the UK’s ambassador to Zimbabwe.

He also previously held executive roles in the defunct-Department for International Development, now replaced by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in African countries including Kenya and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Vowles was also the governance and security team lead in Afghanistan and a World Bank health adviser in Bangladesh.

He began his career in Zimbabwe, where he worked in education and development.

“I am honoured to be appointed as British High Commissioner to Nigeria,” Vowles said in a statement issued by the British High Commission in Abuja.

“Nigeria is a country of immense importance to the United Kingdom, and I look forward to working closely with Nigerian partners to strengthen our relationship across trade, development and security.”

The new high commissioner will assume the role in September.