General news

• Dangote Refinery IPO gets $1bn underwriting backing from Marob, Lilium

  19-08-2026 08:13 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Udeme Akpan Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals FZE, DPRP, has secured $1 billion in underwriting backing from Marob Strategies and Consulting DIFC Ltd and Lilium Capital Group ahead of its planned initial public offering, IPO.The $1 billion programme comprises a completed and funded $600 million private placement and a $400 million underwriting commitment for the planned IPO.Marob Strategies and Lilium Capital, appointed co-financial advisers and structuring agents for
  
  Read more

• Minister’s aide tackles Deji, says Abuja flooding predates Wike

  19-08-2026 09:44 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed criticism of the FCT Administration following flooding in parts of Abuja after a heavy downpour on Saturday.Olayinka argued that flooding in the nation’s capital predated Wike’s tenure as FCT minister, accusing lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju of using the incident to attack the administration.In a statement titled, &ld
  
  Read more

• Why Madrid did not sign Rodri — Mourinho

  19-08-2026 09:36 via punchng.com
  
  José Mourinho explains why Real Madrid’s pursuit of Rodri collapsed despite a strong offer, citing the midfielder’s hesitation as the key factor.Read More: https://punchng.com/why-madrid-did-not-sign-rodri-mourinho/
  
  Read more

• Manx Grand Prix: Rider dies in crash during qualifying

  19-08-2026 09:36 via punchng.com
  
  A rider has died following a two-competitor crash during qualifying for the 2026 Manx Grand Prix. An investigation is underway into the fatal incident.Read More: https://punchng.com/manx-grand-prix-rider-dies-in-crash-during-qualifying/
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Five Premier League stars to watch as new season begins

  19-08-2026 09:35 via vanguardngr.com
  
  The new Premier League season kicks off on Friday, setting the stage for a galaxy of stars to shine in the 2026-27 campaign.AFP Sport looks at five players to watch:Morgan Rogers (Chelsea)Signed for a British record £117 million ($158 million) from Aston Villa, the England midfielder will be expected to lead the Xabi Alonso revolution at Stamford Bridge.Rogers is Chelsea’s marquee close-season recruit and must live up to his eye-watering price tag if Alonso is to revitalise the Blue
  
  Read more

• Liberia to receive about 1,200 US deportees

  19-08-2026 09:28 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Liberia said Tuesday it would receive up to 1,200 foreign nationals deported from the United States, as President Donald Trump pursues an unprecedented immigration crackdown.The Trump administration has launched a sweeping expansion to deportations where the government has argued it can send people to a country that is not their home nation.“Liberia intends to accept up to 1,200 persons to be transferred from the United States of America within a year,” the Liberian g
  
  Read more

• Wande Coal to Davido: ‘Come My Way’ did well without you

  19-08-2026 09:20 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Nigerian singers Wande Coal and Davido have clashed on social media over an unreleased collaboration, “Come My Way”.The disagreement was sparked by comments made by Davido during a recent podcast interview, which he shared on his Instagram Story.The “I know Who I be” crooner said that the collaboration was shelved after he disagreed with Wande Coal on how the song should be released.According to Davido, Wande Coal initially approached him to feature on the song, after wh
  
  Read more

• Tinubu to address world leaders at UN September 23

  19-08-2026 09:13 via vanguardngr.com
  
  President Bola Tinubu will join world leaders to address the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) General Debate on Wednesday, Sept. 23, in New York.Tinubu is scheduled as the 10th speaker during the morning session on day two of the high-level General Debate holding from Sept. 22 to Sept. 28 at the UN headquarters.A provisional list of speakers obtained by the Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), shows Tinubu will deliver his statement during the morning
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• 30 years after Tupac’s death, ‘Keffe D’ Davis on trial for orchestrating 1996 Killing

  19-08-2026 09:02 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Thirty years after, former South Side Compton Crips gang leader Duane “Keffe D” Davis, 63, appeared in court Monday for his trial over the alleged murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur, who was gunned down in Las Vegas.
  He is the first person to be brought to trial in the case.
  He is charged on a one count charge of murder with a deadly weapon in the 1996 killing of the hip-hop legend.
  Opening statements kicked off with prosecutors calling Shakur’s death “an act of revenge.&rd
  
  Read more

• New terminal responsible for Kirikiri – Apapa traffic

  19-08-2026 09:01 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Ebunoluwa Sessou, Providence Ayanfeoluwa & Peace LouisLAGOS — MOTORISTS, truck drivers and other road users in the Mile 2-Kirikiri area of Apapa in Lagos State, yesterday, lamented the worsening gridlock in the area, as the situation disrupted deliveries and forced motorists to spend several hours on the road.
  The development, according to some truck drivers, had become particularly severe in recent months following the commencement of operations of a new terminal in the area.
  This
  
  Read more

• Abattoirs silently ravaging Nigerians, animal experts warn

  19-08-2026 08:58 via vanguardngr.com
  •Create diseases, tumor, cancer, high BP, stroke
  By Gabriel Ewepu
  Meat has its primary source from livestock including cows, goats, sheep, poultry products, and among others. This important source of protein is now a dangerous means of deadly parasites causing terminal diseases which are contracted from animals slaughtered at the abattoirs by butchers and sold to Nigerians.
  According to a report, titled ‘Public Health Perspective of Public Abattoirs in Nigeria, Challenges and Solutio
  
  Read more

• Trump pauses 50% tariffs on Canadian goods for three days

  19-08-2026 08:56 via vanguardngr.com
  
  US President Donald Trump paused the planned rollout of punishing new tariffs on Canadian goods late Tuesday, as both sides indicated they were close to a broader trade agreement after weeks of talks.Trump announced the three-day reprieve from 50-percent duties on select goods just hours before a midnight deadline.The delay was “based on the fact that Canada and the U.S.A., subject to the finalization of documents, have a DEAL!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.Canadian Prim
  
  Read more

• Palm oil import bill rises 194% to N23bn

  19-08-2026 08:55 via vanguardngr.com
  
  … Stakeholders tie rise to urbanisation, population growth, others
  By Cynthia Alo
  Nigeria’s import bill on palm oil rose by 194.4 percent year-on- year (yoy) to N23.16 billion in the first quarter of 2026 (Q1’26) from N7.87 billion in the corresponding period of 2025 (Q1’25).
  This is contained in the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Foreign Trade in Goods Report which added that the Q1’26 figure also indicates a 65.4 percent quarter-on-quarter rise from N14 bil
  
  Read more

• Morning recap: Tinubu, Obi sign peace pact, states’ budgets jump 47%, other top stories

  19-08-2026 08:52 via punchng.com
  
  President Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi sign a peace pact ahead of 2027 elections. Also, states’ budgets jump 47%, NDLEA nabs cocaine baron, and more top storiRead More: https://punchng.com/morning-recap-tinubu-obi-sign-peace-pact-states-budgets-jump-47-other-top-stories/
  
  Read more

• Campaigns kick off in Nigerian presidential race

  19-08-2026 08:52 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Campaigning kicks off in Nigeria Wednesday, five months ahead of elections set to be dominated by crushing inflation and President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.Africa’s most populous country is straining from years of economic turmoil and violence from armed groups — though a divided opposition works in favour of Tinubu, seeking a second term.“The economy is the biggest issue. That’s the one thing that cuts across different parts of the country and it continues t
  
  Read more

• UK inflation rises 2.9% in July on higher energy bills

  19-08-2026 08:49 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Britain’s annual inflation rate climbed in July in line with analysts’ expectations, official data showed Wednesday, driven by higher energy bills.The Consumer Prices Index rose 2.9 percent in the 12 months to July, up from 2.6 percent in June, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement.The rise was spurred by a 13 percent hike in the price cap on household energy bills that took effect last month, a consequence of the ongoing US-Iran war.The ONS called it “the lar
  
  Read more

• UAE suspends trade, financial dealings with Iran

  19-08-2026 08:45 via vanguardngr.com
  
  The United Arab Emirates has said it is suspending all trade and financial dealings with Iran after reporting an Iranian missile attack directed at its ships.The announcement comes after a period of relative calm in the UAE, with no Iranian missiles aimed at the country since May after it bore the brunt of attacks in the early weeks of the Middle East war.Abu Dhabi has however accused Tehran of repeatedly targeting its tankers at sea in recent weeks.“In light of regional escalations&helli
  
  Read more

• NPERA commences operations as port economic regulator

  19-08-2026 08:40 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Godwin OritseThe Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) has formally commenced operations, ushering in a new era of economic regulation designed to make Nigeria’s ports more transparent, competitive, predictable and efficient.
  The agency’s commencement follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent to the Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency Bill, 2026, which established NPERA as the statutory authority responsible for the economic regulation of the nation&rsquo
  
  Read more

• NAICOM revokes  Universal Insurance’s licence, appoints receiver

  19-08-2026 08:34 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Innocent AnabaThe National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has revoked the license  of Universal Insurance Plc and appointed a receiver/provisional liquidator to commence the process of winding up the company’s affairs.The cancellation, which took effect on August 14, 2026, followed the company’s alleged failure to meet the prescribed Minimum Capital Requirement (MCR) applicable to its category of licence within the stipulated compliance period.In a notice dated August 13
  
  Read more

• FAAC: FG, States, LGs share N3 trn 

  19-08-2026 08:30 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau ChiefThe three tiers of government have shared N3.007 trillion as July 2026 revenue.The revenue was shared at the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, meeting held, yesterday,  on the sidelines of the ongoing National Council on Federation and Economic Development, NACOFED, jn Owerri, Imo State.This moth’s shared revenue was  higer than the ?2.551 trillion shared in the month of July 2026, where the total distributable sum comprised ?1.8
  
  Read more

• Nine die in India hotel fire

  19-08-2026 08:16 via punchng.com
  
  Nine people, including a child, died in a hotel fire in Kolkata, India. Thick smoke enveloped the budget hotel, with an AC explosion suspected. Read more.Read More: https://punchng.com/nine-die-in-india-hotel-fire/
  
  Read more

• Dollar to Naira exchange rate today, August 19, 2026

  19-08-2026 08:04 via vanguardngr.com
  
  The Nigerian naira remained relatively firm against the United States dollar on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, with the currency trading around the N1,350 per dollar level at the official Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), while the parallel market maintained a wider spread.The latest available official data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed the naira closing at about N1,350 per dollar at the NFEM on Monday, August 17, 2026, strengthening from N1,358.25 recorded on Friday, August
  
  Read more

• Nigerians pay more for cement than African neighbours – FCCPC

  19-08-2026 06:48 via punchng.com
  
  FCCPC investigates why Nigerians pay more for cement than other African countries despite high production capacity, suggesting possible price manipulation.Read More: https://punchng.com/nigerians-pay-more-for-cement-than-african-neighbours-fccpc/
  
  Read more

• 24 killed, many injured in fresh Plateau attack

  19-08-2026 05:49 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Nkiruka Nnorom & Golok NanmwaJOS—No fewer than 24 persons have been killed and several others injured following gunmen attack on Binper community in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
  The attack, according to residents, occurred between Monday night and early hours of yesterday. An eyewitness, Daniel Musa, said the attackers, who were heavily armed, moved from house to house, forcing their way into homes and attacking residents who were asleep.
  He said: “Our villag
  
  Read more

• IBB, IGP, Ike Nwachukwu, Osoba, Obaigbena, others for ‘Vanguard at 40’ book launch 

  19-08-2026 05:39 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, retd, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, ex-Minister of External Affairs, General Ike Nwachukwu, retd., and former Ogun State governor, Chief Segun Osoba and Publisher of ThisDay/Arise Media, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, are among the eminent Nigerians expected at the 40th anniversary book launch and reunion of Vanguard Newspapers.The event, scheduled for Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, is exp
  
  Read more

• Suspected B-Haram terrorists kill police inspector, seven others in Adamawa 

  19-08-2026 05:35 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Monday night attacked Gaya community in Hong LocalGovernment Area of Adamawa State, killing a police inspector and seven civilians.Chairman of Hong council, Aliyu Sa’ad, confirmed the attack, yesterday.Sa’ad said the attackers invaded the community at night, set two houses ablaze and killed eight people.He said:  “The attackers came on the night of Monday and launched a bloody attack on two houses, burnt the houses and killed one po
  
  Read more

• 2027: High hurdles before candidates, parties

  19-08-2026 05:26 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Clifford Ndujihe, Henry Umoru, Joseph Erunke, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Omeiza Ajayi, John Alechenu, Olayinka Ajayi & Luminous JannamikePARTIES and candidates for the presidential, 469 National Assembly, 28 governorship and 993 state assembly seats have high campaign hurdles to scale for the 2027 general polls. No fewer than eight states have announced between N20 million and N200 million as permit fees for campaign billboards, posters, and outdoor materials. More states are expecte
  
  Read more

• NAFEM turnover rises to $1.41bn as FX activity rebounds

  19-08-2026 05:18 via punchng.com
  
  Nigeria’s NAFEM turnover surged to $1.41bn on August 17, 2026, marking a five-week high as foreign exchange activity rebounds. Learn more about the FX markRead More: https://punchng.com/nafem-turnover-rises-to-1-41bn-as-fx-activity-rebounds/
  
  Read more

• Airtel Africa boosts share buyback cap to $65m

  19-08-2026 05:18 via punchng.com
  
  Airtel Africa increases its share buyback program to $65m, aiming to reduce capital and boost shareholder value amid foreign exchange pressures. Learn moreRead More: https://punchng.com/airtel-africa-boosts-share-buyback-cap-to-65m/
  
  Read more

• US lifts 12-year entry restriction on Nigerian vessels

  19-08-2026 05:12 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Godwin OritseThe United States Coast Guard (USCG) has lifted the Condition of Entry (CoE) imposed on vessels arriving in the United States from Nigeria, ending a 12-year regime of enhanced security requirements on ships calling at Nigerian ports.
  The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, announced the development, describing it as a major milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen maritime security, improve port competitiveness and enhance the country’s s
  
  Read more

Follow @GeneralNews_NGR on Twitter!