British High Commissioner-designate to Nigeria, Mr Pete Vowles, has arrived in Abuja for his new diplomatic assignment.

Vowles takes over from Richard Montgomery, who served for about three years and five months as the United Kingdom’s High Commissioner to Nigeria.

Vowles arrival was disclosed yesterday in a statement issued by the Senior Communications and Public Diplomacy Officer at the British High Commission, Atinuke Akande-Alegbe.

The new High Commissioner said he was excited to be in the country and pledged to be people-oriented during his tenure.

Stressing that the U.K.-Nigeria relationship was built largely on strong people-to-people ties, Vowless looked forward to working with partners across the country to strengthen bilateral relations.

He said: “The U.K. and Nigeria have a deep and enduring partnership, built above all on the connections between our people.

“I am looking forward to discovering Nigeria for myself and working with partners across the country to build on that relationship and see what more we can achieve together.”

Bowles appointment was announced in June, and he would be bringing his extensive diplomatic and development experience to bear on his position.