STORY
Peter Vowles has been appointed as the next British High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has announced. He will succeed Dr Richard Montgomery and is expected to take up the role in September 2026.
Vowles is currently HM Ambassador in Harare, a post he has held since 2023. He has previously served as HM Ambassador in Yangon and held senior roles in the former Department for International Development, including Director for Asia, the Caribbean and Overseas Territories, Country Director in Kenya and Deputy Country Director in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
His earlier career included development and health-related roles in Bangladesh, Afghanistan and India, as well as work with the World Bank, the National Health Service management training scheme and Raleigh International. The appointment places him in one of the UK’s most significant diplomatic postings in Africa, with Nigeria remaining a key partner for the UK on trade, development, security and regional affairs.