UK appoints new high commissioner to Nigeria

The United Kingdom has appointed Peter Vowles as its new High Commissioner to Nigeria, according to a statement from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Vowles will take up the post in September 2026, succeeding Richard Montgomery. He is currently serving as British High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, a role he has held since 2023.

Vowles has worked in diplomatic and development roles for more than two decades. His previous postings include Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Afghanistan and Myanmar. He has also served as Transformation Director at the FCDO.

The appointment underscores continued diplomatic engagement between the UK and Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and the UK’s second‑largest trading partner in Africa. Bilateral trade between the two countries was worth over £5 billion in 2025, according to UK government data.

Outgoing High Commissioner Richard Montgomery took up his post in 2021. During his tenure, the UK and Nigeria deepened cooperation on security, anti‑corruption and infrastructure financing.

Vowles’ experience in Africa includes leading DFID’s programmes in Kenya and serving as deputy country director in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His early career also included a teaching position in Zimbabwe under the country’s Ministry of Education.

No further details about Vowles’ specific priorities or plans in Nigeria have been released.

SOURCE: MRA