General news

• ‘AI agents’ll drive next wave of digital commerce’

  19-07-2026 02:00 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Visa has disclosed plans to strengthen its payment infrastructure by leveraging Artificial Intelligence, AI, stablecoin and tokenisation technologies to improve payment experiences for consumers and businesses.The company said the initiative is aimed at providing the infrastructure and intelligence needed to drive innovation across both the front- and back-end of payments as commerce becomes increasingly intelligent, programmable and embedded in everyday experiences.Regional President for Centr
  
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• SOKAPU sues Umahi over Nurse Habila’s death; demands autopsy, N20bn damages

  25-07-2026 15:53 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Ibrahim Hassan-WuyoThe Incorporated Trustees of the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ United Association, SOKAPU, has instituted a suit before the Federal High Court in Kaduna against the Minister of Works, David Umahi, over the death of Mary Habila, a nurse who died while attached to the minister’s medical team.Read Also: ‘One of my outstanding ministers’ – Tinubu hails Umahi at 63Mary Habila reportedly died on June 27 at the minister’s residence, an incident that
  
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• ‘One of my outstanding ministers’ – Tinubu hails Umahi at 63

  25-07-2026 15:38 via vanguardngr.com
  
  President Bola Tinubu has felicitated the Minister of Works, David Umahi, on the occasion of his 63rd birthday, praising his dedication to delivering lasting infrastructure projects across Nigeria.Before joining Tinubu’s cabinet, Umahi, born on July 25, 1963, represented Ebonyi South in the Senate after completing two consecutive terms as governor of Ebonyi State between 2015 and 2023.In a statement released on Saturday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy,
  
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• Full list of countries outside Africa Nigerians can visit without visa

  25-07-2026 15:27 via vanguardngr.com
  
  There’s good news for Nigerian passport holders looking to explore the world without the hassle of extensive visa fees or long application processes.According to the Henley Passport Index 2026, Nigerian citizens can travel to at least 20 destinations outside the African continent where entry is allowed either visa-free, with a visa on arrival (VOA) at no extra cost, or via an e-visa.This expanded access opens doors for Nigerian travellers to experience countries in the Caribbean, Asia, an
  
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• Motorists, residents urge Abiodun to complete Mowe-Ofada road

  25-07-2026 15:14 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Motorists, commuters and residents have appealed to Gov. Dapo Abiodun to urgently complete the second section of the Mowe-Ofada road to ease stress and improve road safety.They said the uncompleted stretch had become a major concern, causing prolonged delays, frequent vehicle breakdown, and increased transportation costs for residents, workers and business owners.Some of the motorists and residents who spoke with NAN in separate interviews on Saturday acknowledged the reconstruction of the firs
  
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• No restriction on movement during sanitation exercise – Lagos commissioner

  25-07-2026 14:39 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Lagos State Government has reiterated that residents are free to move during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, stressing that there is no policy restricting movement and that any arrest based solely on movement is illegal.Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, made the clarification on Saturday in a post on X while responding to a user, Faveo Autos, who sought clarification over an alleged arrest linked to the sanitation exercise at the Ikeja Police St
  
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• Untamed wildfires in Spain, France force over 200,000 to flee

  25-07-2026 14:34 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Out-of-control wildfires in Spain and France that have forced the evacuation of more than 200,000 people raged on Saturday near Madrid and Bordeaux, with Paris mobilising its military to help overstretched firefighters.Thick black ash coated roof terraces of houses in the north of the centre of Madrid, an AFP journalist saw, with residents forced to keep their windows closed by the smell of throat-irritating smoke.In Bordeaux, in southwest France, 3,500 people who had fled nearby areas —
  
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• At least 16 killed in Ukrainian, Russian strikes as attacks intensify

  25-07-2026 14:04 via vanguardngr.com
  
  At least 16 people were killed in Ukrainian and Russian strikes Saturday, in a deadly fifth summer of war as both sides intensify attacks, with diplomacy at a deadlock.Ukrainian drones also targeted a Siberian oil refinery and the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, escalating strikes deep inside Russia — which it says are aimed to weaken Russia’s war effort and force the Kremlin to negotiate.The deaths — in Russian-occupied Ukraine, north-eastern Ukraine and Russian border villages
  
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• IGP didn’t order shoot-on-sight of illegal firearm carriers, Police clarify

  25-07-2026 13:34 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Evelyn UsmanThe Nigeria Police Force has refuted reports claiming that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, ordered officers to shoot anyone found with illegal firearms, insisting that the report is entirely false and a misrepresentation of the IGP’s actual comments.In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the police high command said the report, which had since gone viral on social media, was taken out of context and twisted to mislea
  
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• LAWMA assures Lagos residents of improved waste collection

  25-07-2026 13:12 via vanguardngr.com
  
  The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has assured residents that current waste collection challenges across the state will ease within six to eight months.The Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, gave the assurance during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Badagry on Saturday.Gbadegesin dismissed claims that local governments were taking over LAWMA’s waste management responsibilities through independent collection initiatives.“That is not true. The
  
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• Man City’s Khusanov signs new five-year contract

  25-07-2026 13:04 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov signed a five-year contract extension with the Premier League club on Saturday.Khusanov helped City win the FA Cup and League Cup last season, as well as finishing second in the Premier League.The 22-year-old centre-back joined City from French side Lens in January 2025.He has been capped 30 times for Uzbekistan and featured at the World Cup, playing in all three of their Group K matches.“This is a great day for me and my family. I am really hap
  
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• No military solution to Yemen conflict, Iran FM says

  25-07-2026 13:00 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday there was no military solution to the escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Tehran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen after both sides traded attacks.“We believe that there is no military solution to the issue of Yemen, Bab al-Mandab, and other regional issues,” said Araghchi in an interview published on Saturday by the state-run Iran Daily newspaper, calling for “dialogue”.He said the situation in Yemen
  
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• Ndume backs Army expansion, demands better pay for troops

  25-07-2026 12:56 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By John AlechenuFormer Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, has thrown his weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions, as well as the recruitment of 28,000 more personnel.Ndume, who represents Borno South, said the decision was a step in the right direction to strengthen the country’s security architecture and improve response time.The Federal Government had on Thursday announced the establishment of four new divisio
  
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• Oyedele sets up new VAT Modification Order C’ttee

  25-07-2026 12:11 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau ChiefABUJA — The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, has inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Committee to develop the 2026 Value Added Tax (VAT) Modification Order.The Ministry’s Head , Information and Public Relations, Efe Ovuakporie, in a statement, this morning said the committee was Inaugurated in Abuja, on Friday, in a move aimed at ensuring the effective implementation of Nigeria’s new tax laws.Mr. Oyedele
  
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• I never wanted to be linked to Awolowo when I went for BBNaija  —  Seyi Awolowo

  25-07-2026 11:59 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Former Big Brother Naija housemate, Seyi Awolowo, has revealed that he deliberately tried to keep his family identity hidden when he auditioned for the reality television show in 2019, saying he wanted to be judged on his own merit rather than his famous surname.Speaking on The Nigeria Meter Podcast, the grandson of the late Nigerian nationalist and statesman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, said he never intended for fellow contestants to know about his family background while in the house.According to
  
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• I never wanted to be linked to Awolowo when I went for BBNaija  —  Seyi

  25-07-2026 11:59 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Former Big Brother Naija housemate, Seyi Awolowo, has revealed that he deliberately tried to keep his family identity hidden when he auditioned for the reality television show in 2019, saying he wanted to be judged on his own merit rather than his famous surname.Speaking on The Nigeria Meter Podcast, the grandson of the late Nigerian nationalist and statesman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, said he never intended for fellow contestants to know about his family background while in the house.According to
  
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• Peter Obi: You can change Nigeria in 4 years, I’m committed to one term, can even sign legally binding affidavit

  25-07-2026 11:37 via vanguardngr.com
  
  •When a president or governor is personally not corrupt, corruption in that government is already reduced significantlyBy Onochie AnibezeWhat was intended to be a brief exchange at the airport lasted over thirty minutes as we discussed major issues dominating Nigeria’s politics. Despite waiting to board his flight, Peter Obi answered every question without appearing rushed.Read Also: Fake agency originated from Buhari government — Budget Office explains PFIP
  
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• After stellar World Cup, Cape Verde goalkeeper to join Chilean club

  25-07-2026 10:57 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who was one of the heroes of Cape Verde’s fairytale run at the World Cup, is signing for Colo Colo, the Chilean club announced.“Vozinha is set to become a Colo Colo player; he will arrive in Chile in the coming days, undergo the necessary medical tests and will then be presented here at the Monumental Stadium,” club president Anibal Mosa told reporters ahead of a league match on Friday evening.Vozinha starred at the World Cup with heroic dis
  
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• Nigeria’s educational threshold should be beyond Akara and Kulikuli  — Seyi Awolowo

  25-07-2026 10:32 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Former Big Brother Naija housemate, Seyi Awolowo, has said Nigeria’s educational aspirations should have progressed beyond what he described as the “Akara and Kulikuli” stage, urging the country to focus on innovation and artificial intelligence instead of survival-driven thinking.Awolowo, while appearing on Vanguard’s Nigeria Meter Podcast, said the world is rapidly advancing in artificial intelligence, with countries such as China and the United States competing for gl
  
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• Cameroon: Paul Biya’s 48-day absence sparks debate over government inaction

  25-07-2026 10:29 via vanguardngr.com
  
  The lengthy absence of Cameroon’s long-serving President Paul Biya, who has been in Switzerland since early June, has reignited debate about government inaction, in a country where many crave change.As of Saturday, it will be 48 days since Biya, 93, who has been in power for more than 40 years and is the world’s oldest head of state, left Cameroon.An official statement said he departed June 7 for a “short, private stay in Europe” with his wife Chantal Biya.The president,
  
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• NIN Contradiction: High cost of false integration

  25-07-2026 09:44 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Juliet UmehNIGERIA’S multi-billion naira digital identity crusade has run into a wall of skepticism. While the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is pulling out the celebratory drums on the international stage, declaring an absolute victory over the era of fragmented databases, the everyday reality for millions of Nigerians paints a jarringly different picture of systemic gridlock, exorbitant correction fees, and analogue bureaucracy.Read Also: Fake agency origina
  
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• Houthis claim missile attack on Saudi Arabia as conflict deepens

  25-07-2026 09:39 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed a missile strike on Saudi Arabia on Saturday, hours after vowing to retaliate against the kingdom for attacks as the Middle East war expanded.Riyadh struck Houthi military targets in Hodeida on Friday, with rebel media reporting two wounded after the Yemeni group announced a maritime blockade of the top oil producer and hit its ships.The flare-up marks a new front of the war that has engulfed the region following US-Israeli strikes on Tehran in February, and co
  
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• Mayorkun debuts new look, draws reactions

  25-07-2026 09:20 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Afrobeats singer Mayowa Emmanuel, popularly known as Mayorkun, has debuted a new hairstyle, drawing reactions from fans and other social media users.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the singer shared the new profile photographs on his X handle on Friday, replacing his signature dreadlocks with a low-cut hairstyle.He captioned the post with “NewProfilePic”. The post quickly generated buzz from social media, drawing reactions from fans and followers.Many users praised the
  
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• Messi wept, by Stephanie Shaakaa

  25-07-2026 09:14 via vanguardngr.com
  
  History is usually indifferent to us. It moves with the patience of a glacier, erasing empires and assembling centuries without ever asking permission. But every so often, it pauses long enough to leave us with an image that explains an entire age.For this generation, that image may well be Lionel Messi in tears.Not because Argentina lost. Not because another trophy slipped through his fingers. Those things belong to the ordinary arithmetic of sport. No, the image endures because it c
  
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• Save me from dying, Ngozi Nwosu cries out for help

  25-07-2026 09:11 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Benjamin NjokuVeteran Nollywood actress Ngozi Nwosu of “Fuji House of Commotion” fame is once again battling a serious health crisis and is pleading for public support to fund her treatment.In an emotional video shared on her Instagram page on Thursday, the actress said she needs ₦30 million to undergo three urgent surgeries. She warned that any delay could be life-threatening.Lying on a hospital bed, Nwosu revealed that she has been hospitalized for three weeks and is in s
  
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• D’banj becomes first Nigerian entertainer to ring London Stock Exchange closing bell

  25-07-2026 09:02 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Nigerian singer, Oladapo Oyebanjo, popularly known as D’banj, has become the first Nigerian artist to ring the closing bell at the London Stock Exchange.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ‘Fall in Love’ crooner disclosed this in a post on his verified X handle on Friday.According to D’banj, he participated in the ceremony as part of activities marking the 125th anniversary of the Royal African Society in London.He described the occasion as a historic momen
  
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• Costa Rica arrests most wanted drug trafficker ‘El Diablo’

  25-07-2026 08:59 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Costa Rican police arrested the country’s most wanted drug trafficker Friday, in an operation that left one person dead and eight injured, officials said.The United States had offered a $500,000 for the arrest of Alejandro Arias Monge, who is known as “El Diablo,” before he was taken into custody Friday morning in Rio Frio, in the northeastern province of Heredia, Costa Rica’s Attorney General Carlos Diaz told reporters.Diaz said law enforcement targeted a meeting of lea
  
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• H1 2026 Review: Airlines battle rising operational costs, FAAN faces policy hurdle

  25-07-2026 08:57 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Dickson OmobolaThe first half of 2026 was a mixed bag for the country’s air transport sector, with airlines grappling with rising operating costs while government agencies, especially the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, and Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, came under fresh scrutiny.Read Also: Fake agency originated from Buhari government — Budget Office explains PFIPC allocationWhile airlines struggled with the sharp increase in the cost of avia
  
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• Osun Central: I remain PDP senatorial candidate, Adekunle tells Fadeyi

  25-07-2026 08:56 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Shina Abubakar, OsogboDr. Ibraheem Adekunle has insisted that he remains the duly nominated Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Osun Central Senatorial District, dismissing claims by Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi to the ticket.Vanguard had earlier reported that Fadeyi resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC), returned to the PDP and claimed to have emerged as the Osun Central senatorial candidate of a faction of the party.Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Friday, Adekunle wa
  
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• Osun NURTW crisis: ALGON cautions Adeleke over “illegal” interference

  25-07-2026 08:53 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Shina Abubakar OsogboAs the factional crisis within the National Union of Road Transport Workers NURTW in Osun state lingers, the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, in the state has cautioned Governor Ademola Adeleke against “illegal interference” not to undermine rule of law.Recall that Vanguard had reported that Governor Adeleke banned NURTW activities across motor parks in the state few hours after the council chairmen appointed caretaker committee for transport u
  
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