Nigeria gets UK high commissioner

Richard Montgomery has resumed as British high commissioner in Nigeria

Montgomery yesterday presented his letter of credence to President Muhammadu Buhari at State House in Abuja.

He takes over from Catriona Laing, who concluded her four years tenure in the country.

A statement by the commission said Montgomery was  executive director at World Bank Group from 2018 to 2022 in Washington DC, U.S..

Prior to this, Montgomery held senior positions in the Department of International Development (DFID). These included director for Asia, Caribbean & Overseas Territories Division, Country Director for Pakistan, and Country Director in Nigeria, 2009 to 2013.

Montgomery was one time the Deputy Director for Corporate Human Resources and Deputy Head in DFID’s Top Management Group. Earlier in his career, he did postings in British High Commissions in Zambia, Bangladesh and India.

He is married to Naheed and together they have two children. He and his wife are looking forward to their second stay in Nigeria.

Montgomery on his second coming to Nigeria, said: “It’s great to be back in Nigeria. I look forward to working with the people of this great country, including those in government, in the private sector and in civil society, to do all I can to help build a more prosperous Nigeria and strengthen the partnership between our countries.”