By Ebunoluwa Sessou & Shedrack Osiomwauri

The UK Government has announced the appointment of Mr. Peter Vowles as the next British High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In a statement signed by Senior Communications and Public Diplomacy Officer, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, FCDO, British High Commission, Atinuke Akande-Alegbe, Mr Vowles is expected to succeed Dr Richard Montgomery CMG and take up his post in Abuja in September 2026. Until then, Dr Montgomery will remain in office.

According to the statement, Vowles brings extensive diplomatic and development experience to the role, having served as His Majesty’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe from 2023 to 2026 and previously as Ambassador to Myanmar from 2021 to 2022.

Vowles has held senior leadership positions across the FCDO and its predecessor department, the Department for International Development, DFID, including serving as Transformation Director and Director for Asia, the Caribbean and Overseas Territories.

Vowles said: “I am honoured to be appointed as British High Commissioner to Nigeria. 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.”

Earlier in his career, Mr Vowles worked in international development across South Asia, Central Africa and East Africa, including postings in Bangladesh, India, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya. He began his career in Zimbabwe, where he worked in education and development.