General news

• Barcelona’s De Jong returns from World Cup with torn ligament

  23-07-2026 23:01 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Barcelona’s Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong is undergoing treatment on a torn knee ligament suffered while on national duty at the World Cup, the Spanish champions said on Thursday.De Jong said the injury came to light on his return from the World Cup when Barcelona doctors returned a more serious diagnosis than the original assessment from the Dutch medical staff.De Jong suffered “a tear of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee,” Barcelona said in a statemen
  
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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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• Osun Election: NANS seeks campus closure over election security concerns

  25-07-2026 08:51 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Shina Abubakar, OsogboThe National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Southwest Zone D, has called for the temporary closure of tertiary institutions in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election, citing security concerns.The association also issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Osun State Government, security agencies and heads of tertiary institutions to engage student leaders on measures to safeguard students during the election period.Speaking with journalists in Osogbo
  
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• Paul Biya’s prolonged stay in Switzerland sparks fresh debate in Cameroon

  25-07-2026 08:48 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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• PDP crisis: NJC must protect judiciary’s independence – Bode George

  25-07-2026 08:40 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Dapo AkinrefonFormer Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Bode George, on Friday, urged the National Judicial Council, NJC, to protect the independence, integrity and credibility of the Nigerian judiciary, expressing worry over a recent court judgment arising from the party’s leadership dispute.
  George, in an open letter addressed to the Chairman of the NJC, said he was compelled to speak as a concerned citizen, democrat and PDP BoT member over developme
  
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• Your expanding waistline is health warning sign

  25-07-2026 08:39 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Sola Ogundipe What do you weigh? Do you have a big or small waistline? Whatever the answer, this should interest you. Most people assess their weight with a quick glance at the bathroom scale. If the number falls within a comfortable range, they assume there’s little cause for concern. But health experts say the bathroom scale doesn’t always reveal what’s really going on. In many cases, a tape measure wrapped around the waist can offer a far more accurate pic
  
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• 2027: I’ll appoint AI, drone as ministers  —  Sowore

  25-07-2026 08:33 via vanguardngr.com
  
  African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has unveiled part of his manifesto for the 2027 presidential election, proposing the use of artificial intelligence to oversee Nigeria’s public finances and drone technology to strengthen the country’s security architecture if elected.Sowore disclosed the proposal in separate posts shared on his verified X handle on Friday, saying his administration would rely on emerging technologies to improve transparency, redu
  
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• Tinubu unveils diaspora health plan, hails Nigerians abroad as greatest asset

  25-07-2026 08:31 via vanguardngr.com
  
  President Bola Tinubu has described Nigerians in the Diaspora as one of the nation’s greatest assets.Tinubu gave the description on Friday night, while announcing new policy commitments to institutionalise diaspora contributions to the country’s healthcare system.The President, represented by Sen. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, delivered the keynote speech at the 2026 National Diaspora Day Celebrations and Merit Award Dinner.The News Agency of Nigeria (
  
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